Only against Keylor, Thibuuuu is here now, fear not

Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Ceballos, Kroos, Modric; Bale, Benzema y Asensio

Uff, Ceballos

Interesting line up, lets see if Ceballos can actually impress me and how the team performs in this important match without Casemiro.

That midfield is incredible. Can't wait.

Even if we do well in this game, Casemiro is paramount in the biggest games. Kroos can't defend and the rest for all their efforts can't intercept balls or track runners. We might get away with it against most teams in LaLiga but against Barca and in CL we need Casemiro

Also can I also add how Kovacic leaving has been a blessing in disguise. In the few games Ceballos has played he has shown more maturity and intelligence than Kovacic showed while with us.

Love, love, love Asensio's performance so far. Don't disappoint me kid, keep going.

Ramos has been dreadful. Mistimes everything. Charges out leaving Varane alone.

How do you whistle for that offside when you’ve got VAR? Seriously...

1-0 to Bilbao. Can't really say it's deserved but that's football.

There's still time, so let's hope for the best.

lol Garcia is such an unlikable guy. He was two miles offside and yet he had the nerve to gesture for VAR. Jesus

Courtois needs to be more aggressive. He's not moving off his goal line enough.

I know we're losing, but my god Marcelo is displaying some Godly skills.

I'm staggered by how anonymous Benzema has been. Actually quite an achievement

Modric and Ceballos are getting owned

Freeza wrote:I'm staggered by how anonymous Benzema has been. Actually quite an achievement

We have no midfield in this game.  Bale and Asensio aren't effective supporting play either.  Someone has to stay on the CBs or it would actually be worse.  All CFs would look like this with how we're getting owned in the middle of the park.

What the hell was Ramos doing in that goal.. Unbelievable defending.

Gotta love how it took 10 fouls for a single card.

Incredible ref. Combined that with whistling for offside on a play that was very on the line he's done a hell of a job.

Why even have VAR if linesmen have this much power.

Ceballos needs to be taken off and put Kroos back where he's used to playing. Modric is still lacking form so he actually needs support too.

Unbalanced in the middle of the park and we're getting owned there.

And Ramos needs to stop thinking he's a CF.

HT. You have to give credit to Bilbao, they played well and kept their composure the entire half.

Even though we're losing, there were still moments where I was genuinely impressed with many youngsters. Asensio is improving a lot and Ceballos looks nothing like the player I saw last season.

We're playing well but we're toothless up front and Bale has been rather invisible.

I hope it changes in the second half because he's our primary goal-scoring threat. I also hope Benzema becomes more aggressive like the last game.

We really shouldn't drop any points, so the guys need to understand that we must win tonight, and I hope they do.

Modric and Ceballos are not having good games out there but despite losing, seeing Marcelo out there is bringing a smile to my face.

Also, Navas would have gotten to that Nick. Conetois

Ceballos isn't doing his job DoC

Seriously though Marcelos ballskills are the best I have ever seen on a defender

No, but he's improving and you can't really expect him to start goating with such a modest experience as a starter for Madrid.

sportsczy wrote:Ceballos isn't doing his job DoC

He totally isn't.

Courtois doesnt fill me with any confidence. Lope still hasn't got our pressing game going

Also Modric needs to sit out a few games. At this point he's becone more of an obstacle

I'm so tired of our midfielders being so reluctant to shoot from the outside. It's always a last resort.

Modric was close on the one shot, but even at that shot he looked around and it was obvious to see it was his plan B. Sometimes they just need to shoot right away.

Ramos might have his worst match of his career today. Only thing left is a red card to top it off. He sold his teammates on the goal, just stopped. He's also risked it all on every single attack by Athletic. He always stays 20m from his man and rushes towards the ball.

It must be incredible to play a defender like him who gives up so much free space every time.