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Real Madrid scraped past Granada 4-2 in an entertaining encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. The hosts started the better of the two sides and surged ahead in the 2nd minute when Karim Benzema tapped home Gareth Bale’s cross.
Madrid kept applying the pressure and breached the Granada defence moments before half-time when Eden Hazard bagged his first La Liga goal of the season.
After the break, Luka Modric rocketed a shot from 30 yards to hand the hosts a comfortable lead. However, Granada struck back with a couple of goals in quick succession to ensure a nervy finish at the Bernabeu.
Darwin Machis converted a penalty nine minutes after the hour mark while Domingos Duarte got on the end of a corner in the 78th minute.
Yet, it was Madrid who had the final say as James Rodriguez made the net bulge off a brisk counter-attack, thereby ensuring that the Los Blancos solidified their position at the top of the table.
Here is a look at the talking points from the game:.
#5 Real Madrid batter Granada in the first half
A few days ago, Real Madrid turned in a woeful first half performance against Club Brugge, which saw the Los Blancos ship two goals. Though they managed to salvage a point out of that game, many were left wondering if the early season crisis had really been averted.
On Saturday though, the hosts turned the screw from the outset and put the visitors to the sword. The Los Blancos’ approach play looked a lot slicker and they were first to every loose ball.
Within a couple of minutes, Madrid found themselves ahead when Alvaro Odriozola darted down the right flank. He found Gareth Bale on the wing, who curled in a sumptuous cross off the outside of his boot, in the process, finding the unmarked Benzema at the far post. The Frenchman did the rest to hand the home side the early advantage.
Thereafter, the Los Blancos created a host of chances with Dani Carvajal coming extremely close to doubling the lead. Madrid were rewarded for their dominance in first half stoppage time when another brilliant through-ball by Federico Valverde set Hazard free. The Belgian gathered the ball in his stride and calmly dinked it over the onrushing keeper.
Apart from the goals though, the hosts found a cure to most of the ailments that had plagued them in the opening period against Brugge. Firstly, they looked a lot more composed on the ball, they switched the play around with purpose and more importantly, found a cutting edge in the final third when it mattered.
Over the past few weeks, the Los Blancos have flickered into life whereas they’ve also contrived to pull out dreary displays. And, while the latter came to the fore in mid-week, they ensured that the former reigned supreme under the Madrid sun in the opening 45 minutes.
#4 Eden Hazard and Luka Modric announce themselves on the La Liga stage
A major part of Real Madrid’s summer comprised of a long-running transfer saga involving Eden Hazard. Eventually, though, they got the deal over the line, meaning that the Belgian became the Galactico signing the Santiago Bernabeu faithful were craving for.
However, that early excitement has fizzled away rather swiftly, courtesy a string of uninspiring performances from the forward. The former Chelsea man had previously looked bright in patches but hadn’t been able to provide the decisiveness or the thrust in the offensive third.
Though Hazard didn’t particularly set the world ablaze on Saturday too, he ensured that he scored a goal and set up Luka Modric’s sublime effort.
The Belgian started a little sluggishly but there were moments in the match signalling that he might finally be buying into the philosophy at Madrid. Moreover, he was willing to roll up his sleeves and carry out his defensive duties, thereby easing the pressure on Carvajal.
As for Modric, the midfielder was cast into action after Toni Kroos went off injured in the first half. While the Croatian failed to impose himself in the remainder of the period, he took his performance up a notch in the succeeding 45 minutes.
The current Ballon d’Or holder dictated the tempo of the game and sprayed passes all across the pitch. Additionally, he was willing to play a more withdrawn role in the absence of Kroos. He also popped up with a magnificent strike from distance to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
In the nascent stages of the 2019-20 season, a majority of Real Madrid’s star players have failed to live up to the billing. While some have been sidelined with injuries, others have just not been at their best.
However, with Hazard and Modric producing accomplished displays on Saturday, there may be a hint of sunshine on the horizon, after all.
#3 Toni Kroos crowds a jam-packed treatment table
Over the past couple of seasons, Toni Kroos and his place in the side has come under immense scrutiny. Often accused of lacking energy and looking a little too lacklustre, the midfielder has drawn negative eyeballs for his languid style of play.
Yet, the German has weathered that storm and has been an ever-present in a Madrid team that has shuffled its pack quite frequently. However, that hasn’t meant that his performances have always peaked.
Nevertheless, Kroos’ importance to the team can’t be overstated enough, especially considering the attributes he brings to the table. Capable of controlling the pace of an encounter, the German’s exemplary passing ability and vision enable Madrid to break several lines of presses.
In addition, the midfielder is a metronomic passer who keeps play ticking and rarely gives the ball away, meaning that the Los Blancos players can harbour hopes of venturing forward.
Even against Granada, Kroos started the game and stamped his authority. Alongside Casemiro, the German ensured that the hosts dominated the early exchanges, an aspect that enabled them to mount several attacks.
However, after his injury, Madrid found it tough to control the game as much, thereby allowing Granada to establish themselves in the game and nearly pull off an improbable comeback.
Though Modric remains an adept replacement, the Croatian and the German boast different skill-sets, suggesting that they are better functioning in tandem.
Thus, the injury to Kroos could have massive implications on the Los Blancos’ season in the upcoming weeks. And, while he hasn’t always torn teams to shreds over the past eighteen months, there’s no denying that he remains one of the most vital cogs in the Madrid wheel.
#2 Granada become the architects of their own downfall
Granada came into the encounter hot on the heels of Real Madrid and just a solitary point off the perch of the La Liga table. Thus, the game represented an enormous opportunity for the Andalusian club to lay down another marker and scale a seemingly insurmountable peak.
However, despite their heroics, the above didn’t transpire and on further introspection, the visitors only have themselves to blame.
In the opening period, the away side started a tad too slow and accorded Madrid too much respect, meaning that the former sacrificed its confident approach for something more circumspect. Consequently, the Los Blancos pinged passed all across the pitch and left Granada chasing shadows.
Moreover, the Andalusian club managed to hand the hosts a couple of goals on a platter, which wasn’t a very smart ploy.
The first goal saw Granada’s left-back hold a line much deeper than his teammates, in the process, allowing Benzema to steal a march on the centre back. Subsequently, the Frenchman found himself in acres of space to bury the opening.
On the stroke of half-time, the visitors’ off-side line again failed to function optimally, in addition to a few more errors.
Firstly, Valverde was allowed to stride forward easily and when the ball did fall to the Granada defenders, they only managed to clear it straight to the midfielder. The youngster lobbed the ball for Hazard, who finished with aplomb.
In the second period, the away side got a couple of goals back and threw a spanner in Madrid’s works. However, that merely proved a consolation in the end, courtesy their dire defensive display in the first half.
And, though Granada wouldn’t have envisioned a comfortable victory at the Bernabeu, they might just be left with a sinking feeling of what could’ve been, had they not gifted the Los Blancos the initiative.
#1 Madrid’s league position is papering over the cracks. But, for how long?
At the start of the season, Real Madrid looked a side in absolute turmoil. The Los Blancos had shunted between three managers a year earlier and their summer signings hadn’t hit their straps. Moreover, they were handed an absolute pasting by Atletico Madrid in pre-season.
The veils of discontent only grew louder with each passing game and it reached a crescendo after Paris Saint-Germain demolished them in the Champions League. However, since then, Madrid have made a much better fist of things and contrary to numerous expectations, have found themselves at the pinnacle of the league table.
Yet, the Los Blancos would do well to use that as a springboard for further improvement rather than a tool for complacency.
To put things into perspective, Madrid’s position at the top of the table is a combination of their doggedness and their rivals’ inability to stitch together the requisite results.
Though the 2018 UCL winners have certainly showcased a steely side to their game, their defence still looks a disaster waiting to unravel, especially from crosses and quick turnovers. Additionally, their goalkeepers aren’t helping matters by distributing early Christmas presents.
Hence, while there may be a temptation to laud the Los Blancos for their early domination in the La Liga, the Bernabeu faithful would be better served refraining from that particular act. After all, there are plenty of chinks in the Madrid armour to iron out and unless that happens, the Los Blancos could come unstuck, again.
And, though there exists a possibility of other teams not bringing their A-game to the fore throughout the term, it would be a touch too naïve to expect that to unfold, wouldn’t it?
