Málaga 1-2 Real Madrid: The Prodigal Son Returns
Isco Alarcón had one of his best matches in his last 2 months, in what was the perfect scenario for him; a pace neither fast nor slow, with his team making quick recoveries and maintaining possession during most of the match, and against a team which didn’t exert too much pressure during the build-up. He was brilliant in both creation and finishing; when the Spaniard is in such form he becomes almost unstoppable. This Sunday, it was the turn of his former team to witness another of his exhibitions.
His first goal came from a free kick at the frontal part of the box, which due to the strength applied, was more like a pass to the bottom of the net, curving above the malaguista barrier. The second goal also came from his boots; an assist given to Casemiro. However, his exhibition went beyond his participation in both goals, his entire match was something to behold.
He began theoretically deployed on the central-left part of the midfield, but where he shone the most was on the opposite side; open at the right flank moving at times behind Carvajal and even behind Casemiro, he was the leader of the creative phase of Madrid´s game plan. From this area of the pitch, moving towards the center on occasions, he did everything; keeping his head up and detecting weaknesses on the rival´s defensive system, which he then attacked through precise passes, finishing the match with over 90% accuracy.
With Isco caressing the ball, Zidane caused a double effect on Malaga; firstly, he forced them to slowly give up space of their part of the field, and secondly, he eliminated their options to perform quick counter attacks using the speed of Rolan; keeping him guarded at all times with Lucas, Carvajal and Casemiro.
Ramos, missed last week on the match versus Juventus, was the leader he usually is on the defense, blocking Ideye and Adrian´s actions. Kovacic made up for Isco´s mobility, occupying the space he left behind and compensating when he didn’t return to defend.
However, not everything was good for the Frenchman´s team. Asensio was not at any moment very active, playing as a left midfielder on a 4-1-4-1; in this kind of matches where the team must build up their plays with not as much time and room for improvisation. He couldn’t perform at his best so close to the sideline, and every time he received the ball he had Castro and Rosales in front, waiting for him.
Lastly, Benzema gave reasons to those who give him praise, he showed details of great technical quality and at times of conductions with the ball not unlike those he used to perform during his first years at the Spanish capital, but he also gave motives to his detractors to continue to doubt his place in the team. He made damage to the rival´s defense with his movements, but was unable to turn this danger into something quantitative; into goals or assists. Do his movements and the fluidity he gives to the creation on the play make up for his lack of finishing and of killer instinct? Feel free to leave your opinion below.