Real Madrid turned the screw at the death as they beat an impressive Sporting side 2-1 at home despite being overwhelmed for large spells of the game in the Champions League.
The reigning champions were expected to sail through the tie, but the Portuguese visitors tore the script apart with a confident display as Bruno Cesar gave Sporting an unexpected yet deserving lead early in the second period, much to the home fans’ dismay.
Los Blancos, who were second best for most of the evening, grew into the game post the final quarter and finally got the equaliser through Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick in the penultimate minute before Alvaro Morata headed home the winner deep in stoppage time.
Trending
It. was a victory they hardly deserved and Sporting CP were left ruing their luck. Here are the major talking points from the game.
1) Madrid make unimpressive start to their title defence
Having won their second European crown in three years back in May, Real Madrid are one of the favourites to go all the way this year too. However, the road to Cardiff certainly won’t be easy this time on the evidence of the loopholes that exist in the team.
What should’ve been a cakewalk today, ended in a great escape. The Meringues were visibly below their best and toiled to get the better of a spirited Lions. Despite having the famed’ BBC trio start upfront, they lacked the attacking flair that they normally exude, whereas the defence wasn't up to the mark.
Time and again the visitors rode their luck from the wings and troubled their glamorous opponents with some dangerous crosses into the area. Whilst fortune played a part in keeping the scoreline nil-nil at the break, Real Madrid were finally punished for their lax defending when Bruno Cesar found the breakthrough in the 47th minute. Ronaldo and co. were alarmed, and it wasn’t until the final 15 minutes when they began to show signs of life.
The superior quality in the team put Real through eventually, but this is no way an ideal start to their title defence.
2) Cometh the hour, cometh Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo had described this game in his pre-match conference as a “special game”, as the Portuguese was pitted against the side with whom he started his football journey. So emotions were running high, but his former employers bore no goodwill and got under his skin by thwarting him.
The 31-year-old was effectively boxed-up by the visitors, who denied him a clear opportunity at goal until late in the game. Ronaldo was although mobile and an active passer of the ball, but was lacking in clear goal-scoring chances.
In the final minute of normal time, he was presented with a free-kick from a decent range and made it count as he lashed home the equaliser. Ronaldo refused to celebrate, but his heroics set Real Madrid on the path of an unlikely victory.
3) Sporting punch above their weight
A huge underdog entering the fray, Sporting CP made it very clear that they won’t buckle against the odds after an encouraging opening 45 minutes.
The Lions not only kept things tight at the back but also threatened with their brilliant counter-attacking display. They produced a handful of chances in the first 45 minutes but lacked the end product. Bruno Cesar’s goal post the interval was only a reflection of Sporting’s dominance, as the mighty Madrid were put to the sword.
They went a little off the boil in the final moments for which they were made to pay, but Sporting CP today proved they are no pushovers and are here to compete for the last 16 alongside Madrid and Dortmund.
4) Zidane rings the right changes
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is never afraid of making tough decisions. The Frenchman subbed big names such as Bale, Benzema and Kroos despite trailing 1-0, but the changes, in the end, came to fruition.
Lucas Vazquez, James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata were all brought on in the final few minutes, and all three youngsters impressed. Whilst Vazquez injected a sense of verve into the attack with his buccaneering runs down the wings, Morata proved a huge threat down the centre.
James Rodriguez, an ostracized figure at Madrid these days, caught the eye of his manager when he laid an inch-perfect cross for Morata to head the winner, showing how useful he can still be to his side.
Zidane may not be happy with the way his side performed today, but may certainly take delight from the decisions he took in the game.
5) Madrid must be wary of Borussia Dortmund
While it was all smiles for the men in white in the end, it doesn’t eclipse the problems that Madrid need to fix. And they need to do it fast as Dortmund are up next. The German side already laid down the marker in the group with a 6-0 demolition of Legia Warszawa.
Sporting CP lacked the quality to make their efforts count, but Dortmund do, and are a much bigger proposition than them. Repeating the mistakes they did today may hurt Los Blancos badly against the Yellow Brigade, as Thomas Tuchel’s side look ready for the challenge.
