Six La Liga games, six wins. And even nine successes in nine games if we add the European Super Cup and the Champions League. Despite a goal conceded at the end of the game, the Merengues are on cloud nine and they proved it again this Sunday evening at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Accustomed to starting matches badly – despite dominating – and winning in the reaction in the second half, Carlo Ancelotti’s men this time offered a very different scenario. They weren’t the most enterprising at the start of the game, but they managed to demonstrate enormous realism.
It’s very simple: two of Real’s only three attempts in the first period ended in the bottom. Each time, after an individual feat. First there was the splendid ladle of Tchouaméni to find the finish of Rodrygo (18th: 0-1). Then the exceptional ride of Vinicius Jr. for a sending on the post taken over by Valverde (36th: 0-2).
The Colchoneros had however displayed a surprisingly very offensive face until then. Yannick Carrasco was the first to alert Thibaut Courtois (11th). Antoine Griezmann, holder for the first time of the season, got even closer to the target by pushing the Belgian goalkeeper to the parade (25th).
The pace is clearly down a notch after returning from the locker room. Diego Simeone’s men never managed to react… until a little boost from… Thibaut Courtois revived their hopes (83rd: 1-2). A missed exit from the Belgian goalkeeper allowed Hermoso to push the ball a bit luckily (from the shoulder) into the back.
An error ultimately without much consequence, since his teammates then managed to remain strong enough to keep the advantage. Thibaut Courtois will be very angry, however, for not having kept zero against his former club. The Red Devil is indeed still looking for its first game without taking a goal in La Liga. Reaching the 6th day of the championship without the slightest clean sheet is also proving to be a first since signing for Real Madrid in 2018.
In previous meetings, it was small details, small mistakes and a direct free kick that each time added a goal to Real’s opponents. This time, Courtois can only blame himself. However, the most important thing remains elsewhere: his team remains leader of La Liga with a perfect 18 out of 18. The only other Belgian downside: Eden Hazard did not receive a single minute.