Real Madrid thought everything was going so swimmingly, having overcome three major obstacles in a week with a tough run of fixtures. Then they fell at the final hurdle in a defeat at home to relegation battlers Girona in La Liga.
Casemiro opened the scoring in the first half with a well-executed header, but Sergio Ramos would concede a second-half penalty for a blatant handball, allowing Cristhian Stuani to equalise. Portu then added the winner later in the second half with a diving header, whilst Ramos would see a second yellow in the final stages to rub salt into the wounds of a 1-2 defeat.
Our tactical analysis will use statistics to identify what key points Real Madrid’s Santiago Solari can take from the game.
Real Madrid are worse off with Marcelo in the team
Another opportunity for Real Madrid’s Brazilian full-back, another game where Marcelo ends the day as the villain. The defender was recalled as Sergio Reguilon was rested given the demanding schedule, but Marcelo yet again failed to take his chance. The first half was an improvement, getting forward threateningly without being compromised at the back, but Girona’s tactical switch at half-time, allowing him more freedom down the left, saw Portu slip in behind to exploit his lack of discipline time and time again.
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