How Real Madrid would start their new season under Carlo Ancelotti garnered huge interest among the fans of Los Blancos and neutrals. Ancelotti brought that free-flowing football in Santiago Bernabeu after the era of Jose Mourinho ended, Ancelotti took over and Los Blancos started to dream bigger on a foundation laid by Mourinho. Ancelotti conquered, then left and returned at Bernabeu with hope.
Karim Benzema led Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory capped by a Vinicius goal to get Carlo Ancelotti off to a winning start on his return to the club. Nacho also added a spectacular effort from a Luka Modric assist on an evening of largely good news for Ancelotti and the fans.
All five goals in this game came after the break, as the first half was goalless. Real Madrid attempted seven shots from outside of the box in the opening 45 minutes, with Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale, and Benzema each trying their luck, but to no avail.
Just three minutes into the second half, though, the attacking trio combined for the opener. A Bale cross to an offside Benzema went well beyond the Frenchman, but that allowed the onside Lucas Vazquez to pick up the ball and restart the play, finding Hazard for a flick that Benzema volleyed home.
Within 10 minutes of that opener, Real Madrid made it a two-goal advantage as Nacho produced a volley of his own to turn a deflected Luka Modric cross past Fernando Pacheco too.
Real Madrid were absolutely cruising and Benzema added another, with Alaves' defence parting like the red sear for Fede Valverde to run through and then find the No.9, who scored at the second attempt.
A poor Eder Militao back pass put Thibaut Courtois in trouble and the Belgian shot-stopper had to foul John Guidetti, with Joselu scoring the resulting penalty, but Alaves didn't offer much more than that.
Modric was once again the midfield fulcrum while Fede Valverde's box-to-box display gave Madrid depth they often lacked during the final days of Zidane.
After making some uncharacteristic giveaways in the first half of the match, Luka Modric controlled the Mendizorroza as only he can in the second 45. The ageless wonder from Croatia made it all look easy, finishing the night with two tackles, two interceptions, two fouls drawn, two key passes, three dribbles completed, and one very fine assist.
Modric fills up the stat sheet in meaningful ways and dictates the play.
With Toni Kroos out, Modric’s massive second half made all the difference.
Alaba played really well, and it just didn’t seem like he was making his debut. He fit like a glove to the hand. The Austrian also registered an assist and hinted at his class at the top level.
Nacho Fernandez led by example - He made a handful of jaw-dropping tackles and even picked up a goal, scoring with aplomb after latching onto Luka Modric’s left-footed cross with the intent and clinical nature of an experienced striker.
Although Lucas Vazquez suffered from some sloppiness, it was another serviceable performance by him who had a pair of key passes and interceptions for his team. Vazquez kept play ticking and did well to help create the opening goal by making sure the ball slid onto the grass into the heart of the area so that either Eden Hazard or Karim Benzema could finish the goal.
Hazard and Bale were two of the biggest positives from the game, with both of them putting in their best performances in a Real Madrid shirt in some time, while the goal by Vinicius Junior would boost his confidence.
As the game progressed, the nerves of Real Madrid calmed down and they got more and more involved in the game.
After the first goal, things looked a lot better for Real Madrid, as Alaves became very sloppy defensively, giving up easy duels, leaving behind a lot of space in the defence – the Los Blancos tried to exploit those spaces as the match went on.
It’s a long season and with just one good there is no time to fly, rather it would be ideal to keep the feet on the ground and think of improving more.
Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 15/08/2021 Real Madrid start the season with a comprehensive victory
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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