Gerard Moreno scored a winner in stoppage time as Espanyol ended their 22-match winless streak against Real Madrid. Gerard Moreno scored a stoppage-time winner as Espanyol ended their 22-match winless streak against Real Madrid. The FC crew explain how Real Madrid's loss at Espanyol will affect the club's mindset ahead of their crucial rematch with PSG in the Champions League.
Real Madrid's first loss in eight in La Liga against a struggling Espanyol side leaves Zinedine Zidane with plenty to ponder after it looked like they had turned a corner this year. The scoreline is one thing but the performance and lack of any purpose in the final third was particularly noticeable against a side they rarely have to break a sweat to beat.
The first half was very similar to the Alaves game at the weekend but on that occasion, Los Blancos found inspiration in Cristiano Ronaldo and on Tuesday night, there were several in white shirts looking over their shoulders waiting for someone else to step up and make a difference. In the end, it was a player in blue and white, Gerard Moreno, who took matters into his own hands as Real Madrid lose for the first time in a decade in the league to Espanyol.
Positives
Even the most sanguine of watchers would be hard pushed to find a positive in that performance from Real Madrid. They lacked a spark from the first whistle and never looked too concerned about getting themselves three points.
If you were to scrape the bottom of the barrel, Zidane is learning what combinations most certainly do not work and the players he can and cannot count on in tight games. It will also serve as a very stark reminder to Real Madrid that they cannot coast in any game regardless of the opposition.
Another positive, perhaps, is that Real Madrid didn't lose by more with a goal ruled out wrongly for offside in the first half and a legitimate Espanyol penalty shout rejected in the second.
Negatives
There were plenty but the lack of any intensity from Real Madrid was startling and even more so as the game progressed and they had to dig in. Zinedine Zidane gave chances to some squad players and they either couldn't motivate themselves for the game or couldn't perform, with both equally as worrying. There has to be serious questions asked about some of those handed starts including some of the more established players.
Manager rating out of 10
4 -- Zidane continues to get burned when he rotates heavily in various positions and was a little too quick to switch things up even if Real Madrid's form had been improving. He played without a recognised striker and the tactic was a disaster with several attacking players vacating the penalty area and drifting to the left and right sides of the field. Real Madrid's more creative players like Isco and Mateo Kovacic lacked a focal point up front and so many attacks were stymied with no distinct tactic to create chances.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Keylor Navas, 6 -- He wasn't asked to do much until the very last minute and had no chance on Moreno's corkscrewed shot off the ground, helped on by a deflection from Raphael Varane. He had rejected Moreno a couple of times prior to the finish and was solid both between the posts and with his distribution.
DF Achraf Hakimi, 5 -- Had a good chance in the first half when he broke up an Espanyol attack and strode forward but fired straight at Diego Lopez. He also had five take-ons down the right and was successful with all of them. The problem was that that amounted to little, as Real Madrid's entire attack floundered time and time again with the lack of a prime focus in the penalty area.
DF Raphael Varane, 4 -- Might have done better for the goal when he was caught off-guard by Moreno's intelligent run. He had a clearance in the first half that was blocked before Moreno scored but he was lucky it was incorrectly called offside. Just middling on the ball but did have a nice header in the first half from a corner that went just wide.
DF Sergio Ramos, 5 -- A tame return to the side by the team captain after being rested for the Alaves game. He was very lucky not to have a penalty called against him in the second half and lacked the drive needed when Real Madrid were struggling. He is, of course, limited in what he can do as a central defender when it comes to attacking but that has not stopped him before.
DF Nacho, 5 -- He should have closed Sergio Garcia down for the cross that led to Moreno's goal but was solid throughout even if it is not his natural position. The versatile defender is constantly being moved around the back and it was only a matter of time before he had a lukewarm performance.
MF Marcos Llorente, 4 -- Casemiro was a late withdrawal from the squad and it's only when the Brazilian is gone that you really appreciate how much work he gets through. Llorente was handed a chance by Zidane but showed he is not yet up to the very high level expected at Real Madrid. Looked a half a yard off the pace, was turned too easily on a number of occasions and had little or no influence as the anchor of Real Madrid's midfield.
MF Mateo Kovacic, 6 -- One of Real Madrid's more lively performers. He was positioned beside Llorente at the base of Real Madrid's midfield and flung the ball around from there impressively. He had a couple of runs from deep that are his trademark but failed to really influence the game. Another victim of Zidane's tactics with no focal point ahead of him.
Gareth Bale's inconsistency continued, as the Welshman took a step back following a good weekend outing vs. Alaves.
MF Isco, 5 -- Tried his best to conjure up something but with no striker in the side and in the penalty area when he looked up, he struggled with his decision making. Strange decision to take him off when Karim Benzema was introduced but a forgettable night overall for the creative midfielder even if it wasn't entirely his fault.
MF Gareth Bale, 5 -- Regressed again after a brief resurgence against Alaves. He got himself in a number of decent positions to shoot but was blocked or missed on all five occasions. Taken off after 81 minutes and did little to convince that the old Bale is back.
FW Marco Asensio, 6 -- Real Madrid's most promising attacker but given the lack of intensity in the game, he almost looked out of place with his attempts to ignite his side's attack. Again, the lack of a striker hurt him, with no options in the box on the several occasions he crossed it in from the left.
FW Lucas Vazquez, 5 -- Lauded for his work rate, Vazquez looked like a player who is getting too comfortable in the starting lineup. A number of poor passes that could have led to more dangerous situations against a better side and a lack of intent in much of his involvement. He was creative going forward at times but lacks that final pass -- even if the options ahead of him were poor too.
Substitutes
FW Karim Benzema, 6 -- Introduced on 69 minutes for Isco and barely had a touch until injury-time. He chested down a ball in the box for Asensio that was eventually put out for a corner, which might have been Real Madrid's best chance.
MF Dani Ceballos, NR -- Brought on for Bale in the 81st minute and had no influence on the game.
FW Borja Mayoral, NR -- Came on with a minute to play for Kovacic but didn't have time to make an impression one way or the other.
Robbie is based in Madrid and is one of ESPN FC's Real Madrid bloggers. Twitter: @robbiejdunne
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Source: espn.co.uk