Real Madrid vs Espanyol

The list of abscences/injuries seems to be increasing by the minute. The list so far:

Carvajal- Pericarditis, will be out for at least 2 months
Benzema- still hasn't joined training
Kovacic- out for another 2/3 weeks
Theo- should theoretically be back by now but still hasn't joined training
Marcelo- still out for another 2 weeks
Bale- offically out as precaution, unofficially did not partake in a single training since the Dortmund game so is obviously injured

Wonder who will start at RB, Lucas or Achraf. I feel like ZZ will rotate this game. Ceballos, Llorente and Mayoral may get starts

Probably line up:


Should still be enough to win.

No way he rotates that much with the injuries and the deficit we have in La Liga already.

Time for Achraf to show his worth. Totally believe in him...unless he does shit.

Cranix starts. Don't know who he is but that's an.awesome name

Weird Ceballos isn't getting his chance. He was the only player worth a lick last week.

Just goes to show this isn't a meritocracy

i don't think you earn a spot based on 1 game. You need to be better for a good stretch of games when coming on as a sub AND outplay the guys in front of you in practice as well.

Never much of a chance anyone was going to displace Casemiro-Modric-Kroos and for good reason tbh.

Understandable that ZZ goes with the tried and trusted for now. We need to get past our Bernabeu demons. Once we've done that ZZ can start rotating like he does in the away games. We are yet to win a game at the Bernabeu this season bar the opening game of the season and if he plays the bench players and we drop more points the media will pounce on it like rabid dogs and we don't want thar now do we

Isco finally.

We really need to practice our crosses. We're not even giving the guys in the box a chance. Also, either our fullbacks have to offer an attacking threat or a midfielder... we can't have neither.

Ronaldo's left foot has taken the early part of the season off it seems so far.

HT 1-0 we are playing in first gear and these Espanyol players think we are their teammates. They keep passing the ball to us all the time.

About ourselves, our play is too vertical, we keep passing it from side to side in turtle pace. We are too narrow, Asensio needs to go out on the left. Haven't seen him much this half. Ashraf needs to learn how to cross, his crosses are the complete opposite of Theo's who shoots the ball instead of crossing, Ashraf crosses it like he is playing beach vollyball. Get some pace on that ball boy.

Ronaldo is coming out of his area too much into the midfield, congesting it. He needs to move from side to side not down to the midfield where there are already gazillion players

Ronaldo still dosn't know how to play CF very well. He doesnt make the runs... altways one kind.

This midfield really doesn't work against park the bus teams. No one to break down defenses, also no one with a long shot.

It's absolutely incredibly against attacking teams that leaves space, but not when there's 10 men behind the ball at all times.

Kroos was actually well known for his long shots at Bayern. Wonder where it's gone at Madrid.

Granero is still playing? Wow.

sportsczy wrote:Kroos was actually well known for his long shots at Bayern. Wonder where it's gone at Madrid.

He has completely stopped shooting with his instep. He only shoots with the inside now.

He's also way too reluctant to shoot. It's getting annoying.

The one who takes shots is actually the least talented at it... namely, Modric. He can't hit the side of a barn.

I really hate watching Lucas play.

Has Ramos had a good game yet this season? We have talked enough crap about the offense but Ramos has been pretty horrendous throughout.

He thinks he's a CF Deez.... just runs out of position whenever he wants. Doesn't bring much to the attack either.

Bar a short period in the second half, Espanyol never really troubled us. Hermoso matched up well with Ronaldo. Us trying to set him up for the last 15 min was really frustrating. Don't think Modric or Kroos played any good. Too many "safe" passes by them. We only really created when Isco got the ball because he's the only one to up with the ball. Against a team like Espanyol you don't want endless possession, you want verticality and Isco is better at that than both Kroos and Modric.

Ramos though tried his utmost to gift Espanyol a goal. Jeez

Ramos has been great all season. Today he was making alot of unforced errors. Didn't get beat but gifted the ball to Espanyol in our own box one too many times

CR7 had a good game. I appreciate his efforts. Isco forever keeping the disco fever alive.

We need to build on this triumph.

edit: something happen recently? so many sau paulo fans on here...

Ramos has been terrible Hala...  he's supposed to play defense.  He is ALWAYS out of position.  Forces Varane and the RB to stretch and that's why you see all those huge passing lanes.  Ramos is always trying to jump the passing lane too, so the pass behind him is wide open.

The goodwill he built with me due to his scoring clutch goals and periods of good defense is wearing thin.  He needs to play his position and stop trying to showboat.

Isco really is a joy to watch honestly. I really hope we don't be cheap when it comes to paying him his just salary. The man is on the path to becoming as influential as Iniesta is to Barcelona. All in all, decent win. Was not expecting anything grand after our really good win against Dortmund so I can't say I'm surprised how the match played out.

Also, Varane is really getting back to the form that made people hype him to the heavens aka us. Another fine centre back display from him.