Real Madrid: Zinedine Zidane’s side have the same old faces and the same old problems after Valladolid setback

Real Valladolid held Los Blancos at the Bernabeu to continue their false start, while Barcelona rebounded and Atletico remained perfect

Redevelopment work at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was evident with scaffolding around the venerable old stadium before Saturday’s La Liga game against Valladolid. Then the game showed how Real Madrid’s team rebuilding project has stalled before it had even begun, as Valladolid got a deserved 1-1 draw against a Blancos XI supposed to have been condemned to demolition long ago.

There was a distinct 2014/15 look to the Madrid lineup for their first Bernabeu outing of 2019/20 – with all 10 outfielders at the club when Zinedine Zidane began his first spell as coach in January 2016, and previously ostracised Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Isco all back in the team.

The difficulty of shaking up a side that grew old together while winning three consecutive Champions Leagues was one reason Zidane left in summer 2018, while on his return last March he was apparently set to undertake a complete team rebuild.

But Saturday brought the same old faces and the same old problems as Madrid began strongly, missed a string of chances, then tired and lost all tactical cohesion. Lower profile opponents grew in confidence and ended the game as the stronger team, as has happened again and again over the last two seasons.

When Karim Benzema put Madrid in front with just seven minutes remaining, with a superb piece of individual genius, it seemed this time Los Blancos had escaped with a win. Until a spectacular lack of concentration at the back, with club captain Sergio Ramos and his fellow Spain international Dani Carvajal most at fault, allowed in Sergi Guardiola for a well taken equaliser.

Afterwards Zidane was clear about what he felt had gone wrong. “Going ahead in the 84th minute, we must be practical and know with conviction what the game requires,” he said. “We had done the most difficult part, scoring a goal, and then we need to get the ball the f*** out of there for the rest of the game. We were caught out of position in defence. It is difficult to take. We deserved more, we were very good in the first half.”

Zidane was correct in that Madrid started the game a lot better than they finished it. Back in favour Bale, James and Isco all looked eager to impress from the off. Bernabeu fans also appeared willing to give previously whistled players a second chance, as even the Welshman received plenty of supportive applause, and James’ apparent willingness to join neighbours Atletico Madrid was passed over.

Visiting goalkeeper Jordi Masip was not however forced into any difficult saves, as Bale put the ball the wrong side of the post when well placed from 15 yards, and James twice curled wide when presented with ideal shooting opportunities on the edge of the area.

Real Madrid appear dejected after conceding an equaliser vs Valladolid (Getty)

Without the suspended Luka Modric, much of Madrid’s passing was too lateral, with Isco returning to his frustrating habit of beating an opponent with a piece of difficult skill, then immediately misplacing a simple pass. Too much was going on in front of Valladolid’s well organised two banks of four, and most of Madrid’s 22 shots over the 90 minutes were speculative efforts from long range or contested headers. Only four of those 22 hit the target.

Meanwhile, as the passing grew sloppier and familiar gaps appeared between Madrid’s defence and midfield, Valladolid had four counter attacks where their attackers outnumbered the covering defenders. Then came the collective switch-off for the equaliser. Even still Zidane repeatedly denied post-game that his team had any physical or fitness issues.

Ansu Fati made his Barcelona debut (Getty)

“The issue is not physical,” he said. “If we are physically bad in the second game of the season, we have a problem. We began the second half with less conviction, our play was not fluid. When we do not play fluidly we have problems. If we play 90 minutes like we played the first half, we have a great chance to take the game.”

The Frenchman was refusing to accept what seems clear, that a team full of talented but ageing players might very well outplay their opponents initially, but will be unable to sustain that level of performance over the entire game. Never mind a full season.

Zidane has been privately fuming at how his transfer plans, especially signing Paul Pogba and selling Bale, 30, and James, 28, were nixed by Perez. However in public he has claimed to have faith that his tarnished galacticos can recover their shine. “Gareth has shown before that he can be a big player, and now has to show that again,” he said on Friday, also adding a little less convincingly that: “James has returned the same good footballer he was before.”

Antoine Griezmann celebrates his goal vs Real Betis (Getty)

29 himself when he joined Madrid as a player in 2001, Zidane does not appear to think that the Bernabeu is not a place for not yet fully formed talents. Promising youngsters Sergio Reguilon, Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos have begun the season impressively at other clubs, after being loaned out as Zidane does not rate them yet. Neither does he fully trust either Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo Goes, despite Perez having invested over €100m in the teenage Brazilians. The one big signing Zidane sees as ready is Eden Hazard, who is 28 already, and has missed the start of the season through injury.

Meanwhile, Madrid’s La Liga rivals have both been significantly shaking up their teams, as Sunday’s games showed. Even without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-2 with two superb goals from summer signing Antoine Griezmann, a fine strike from La Masia graduate Carles Perez and a debut for 16 year old Ansu Fati. Atletico have two wins from two so far, after their new wonderkid Joao Felix set up the only goal in a hard fought local derby at Leganes.

Madrid could still react with Spain’s transfer window open for another seven days. Ramos called Neymar “one of the top three players in the world,” in the Bernabeu mixed zone on Saturday, and the Brazilian was Marca’s cover star again the following morning.

Vitolo celebrates after scoring the winner vs Leganes (AFP/Getty)

But the Madrid hierarchy have yet to make any serious offer to Paris Saint Germain, with money apparently not available for any more expensive signings this summer. When asked on Friday about further ins or outs, Zidane responded with a half smile / half grimace: “I can’t wait for September 2nd to come, so I don’t get asked these questions any longer.”

Madrid’s long-serving big name players might well believe that, after taking last season off, they are mentally refreshed and sufficiently motivated again to win more La Liga titles and Champions Leagues. Whether their bodies will respond with the physicality and energy required over a long season looks very doubtful. Saturday’s performance, especially that such experienced heads were unable to protect a 1-0 lead late on, also suggests a worrying lack of mental focus.

It will be at least three years before the new €600m Bernabeu, with its shiny extendable roof and audio-visual enabled ‘skin’ is completed. Zidane will surely be given a lot less time to get his team back to a level capable of winning the biggest trophies. The stadium was in forgiving mood on Saturday, but the lack of any novel or exciting additions to the team means the frustration and whistles will be back again soon.