Valencia 4-1 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points from the Champions' loss at Mestalla | LaLiga 2020-21

#3 Real Madrid's Midfield:

Valencia CF v Real Madrid - La Liga Santander

Real Madrid have made some great moves in the market in the last decade or so, but there have also been some colossal errors of judgment over the past few seasons.

Tonight their midfield was one of the major reasons for the loss as Valencia had a strong showing in the middle of the park particularly through the tireless Uros Racic, who exploited Real Madrid's lack of physical presence in the middle. He ran Isco ragged, who needed to be helped out several times by the Duracell bunnies that are Fede Valverde and Luka Modric.

Real Madrid won 4 Champions League titles in 5 seasons thanks arguably one of the greatest ever midfield trios in Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos.

The Croat is having a bit of a renaissance this year, seeming to turn the clock back, but he is still the oldest player in the squad. Toni Kroos is currently 30, and certainly not the most agile of players.

Casemiro is the best holding midfielder in football right now, but his only cover is Fede Valverde, who is also the cover for Luka Modric and Toni Kroos if they ever have to sit out a game for whatever reason.

Real Madrid decided to sanction a move for Marcos Llorente to derby rivals Atletico Madrid for a measly sum last summer, and in doing that they moved on the only player capable of playing in and possibly challenging for Casmeiro's position in the team.

The team needs some fresh legs in the middle of the park, with Isco seeming more and more like a mere spectator through most of the games he participates in.

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#4 Valencia's fighting spirit:

Valencia CF v Real Madrid - La Liga Santander

Any team who'd have lost almost their entire spine in the way that Valencia did would most certainly be in just as bad a position as them right now, if not worse.

The club moved on long-time servant and Club Captain Dani Parejo for a measly £9m. Francis Couqelin, Kongdogbia, Rodrigo, Ferran Torres and Cristiano Piccini are amongst what are only considered to be, 'the first wave' of departures from Valencia, with a few more predicted to come in the winter transfer window.

Despite this, they came in tonight with no intention of being anything but the best side out there tonight, and it showed as they went in to every challenge with more intensity.

Frankly they just wanted the win more than Real Madrid's XI did last night, and they got the points that their performance merited against arguably the best side in LaLiga right now, which says less about Real Madrid and more about the state of the league at the moment.

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#5 Replacements/Cover for ageing Talismen:

Valencia CF v Real Madrid - La Liga Santander

Real Madrid have several players in the current squad that they rely heavily on who are edging closer to their limits in terms of physical capabilities. Staying at the very top for such a long period of time must take it's toll, and tonight's performance was a reminder that even the very best can't beat father time.

There needs to be a conversation amongst the Real boardroom in terms of what their strategies are to ease the burden on and eventually replace the likes of Benzema, Ramos and Modric. Hazard is about to be and Kroos already is 30 years of age. These are the key blocks around which this iteration of Real Madrid is made, and it would be in the club's best intrests if they got their heads together after tonight and see that even the best need a rest.

It will be interesting to see how Real Madrid's next couple of transfer windows pan out.