Cristiano Ronaldo's European form gives Real Madrid fans reason to be optimistic

Aditya Devavrat 22:29 15/01/2018
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  • Real Madrid suffered another shocking defeat on Saturday.

    Saturday brought a new low point in Real Madrid‘s dismal season, as they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat against Villarreal. The defeat leaves them 19 points behind league leaders Barcelona, with the game in hand they have on their rivals more or less irrelevant – and assuming they’d win that game isn’t a certainty anymore.

    But while there’s no doubting that Madrid have been a disappointment this season and that they’ve been out of the running for the league since their 3-0 loss to Barcelona last month, this campaign doesn’t have to be written off just yet. There’s still plenty to play for and reason for fans to be hopeful.

    Here’s why Madridistas can still be optimistic for the rest of the season.

    SHOT AT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY

    The contrast between Real Madrid’s form in La Liga and Europe is inexplicable, but it also offers the side hope for the rest of the season. Barring the 3-1 loss to Tottenham at Wembley in the group stages, Madrid have looked more like their usual selves in the Champions League, as they bid for a third straight title win.

    They haven’t been handed the kindest of draws, with PSG awaiting them in the Round of 16. But the Ligue 1 leaders have had problems of their own this season, mitigated by the fact that unlike Madrid, they don’t have a competitor that can match them in terms of talent, and that talent is usually enough to get them over the line. Against Madrid, however, it may not be.

    If Madrid can dispatch PSG in this round, that’ll be one of the main contenders for the title out. There are other top sides left in the competition, of course, with Bayern Munich looking ominous and Barcelona unbeaten so far this season, but a win over PSG should provide an injection of confidence, and a confident Real Madrid side in their favourite competition will always be a force to be reckoned with.

    The Champions League seems to get the best out of Madrid.

    The Champions League seems to get the best out of Madrid.

    YOUNG STARS COMING THROUGH

    When Dani Carvajal was injured earlier this season, young right-back Achraf Hakimi stepped up and showed he belongs at that level. He made mistakes, of course, but he is also a 19-year-old who was thrown into the deep end at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Similarly, Jesus Vallejo proved to be a solid option during Madrid’s defensive crisis this term.

    Other young players have also shown glimpses of their talent this season, such as Borja Mayoral and Dani Ceballos impressing. They haven’t set the world on fire, yet, and that’s fine – not everyone is going to seize the stage like Marco Asensio did. But there is clearly a crop of young, talented players who have the trust of the team’s management, and they should get more chances to prove themselves in the coming months.

    19-year-old Hakimi has acquitted himself well this season.

    19-year-old Hakimi has acquitted himself well this season.

    THIS IS STILL A TALENTED SQUAD

    Cristiano Ronaldo. Isco. Gareth Bale. Karim Benzema. Luka Modric. Toni Kroos. Raphael Varane. Sergio Ramos.

    They haven’t become bad players overnight. Ronaldo, in particular, has shown in Europe that he’s still got it, and much like his team in general, his form in La Liga is inexplicable. On Saturday again he was unlucky, hitting the woodwork and just missing another chance – any other day and he would have scored twice despite a “bad” performance.

    Bale has arguably been Madrid’s most consistent attacking player this season, whenever he’s been fit. Benzema looks like he’s lost confidence, and perhaps that silly debate over whether he’s world class or overrated got to him, but you’d still back him to come good. Modric, Kroos, and Casemiro are still an excellent midfield triumvirate, and they still often control games and create chances that somehow just aren’t converted.

    Zinedine Zidane has a crop of players, young and established, who only months ago completed a league and European double, winning an unprecedented second straight Champions League title in the process.

    They haven’t matched the standard they set last year, but they’re capable of that level of play. It may just take some better man-management from Zidane – famed for instilling confidence in his players rather than making tactical tweaks – or perhaps they just need some luck, a string of good results, and they’ll be back to their best.

    The smart money is on Benzema, Ronaldo, and company rediscovering top form.

    The smart money is on Benzema, Ronaldo, and company rediscovering top form.

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