Toni Kroos’ mistake proved costly as Real Madrid’s goalscoring problems continued on Tuesday with a surprise 1-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.
Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos were among a number of key players missing at Luzhniki Stadium, but it was Kroos’ dreadful backpass that allowed Nikola Vlasic, on loan from Everton, to put CSKA ahead after just 68 seconds.
Madrid searched for an equaliser but, despite hitting the woodwork three times, were resisted by a determined CSKA defence. The reigning European champions have now failed to score in three-consecutive matches.
CSKA’s veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was sent off deep into added time after picking up two yellow cards for dissent, but nothing could spoil the hosts’ victory.
They climb above Madrid in Group G, with Julen Lopetegui’s side lacking spark, thrust and cutting edge in attack. They missed Bale, Isco and, perhaps even, the lethal touch of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Here is our report card from Moscow.
THE GOOD
CSKA’s bolted backline – From the second minute onward, CSKA retreated into their defensive shell and bounced away most of what Real had to offer.
Their organisation was impeccable, two fine examples of their defensive rigour in the form of the two young DMs Ilzat Akhmetov (20) and Jaka Bijol (19).
Space was shut down with a quickness and the three centre-backs blanketed the bombardment of crosses with relative ease. The game was comparable to that of the last time a Spanish side was in Moscow as defence beat out attack between Russia and La Roja at World Cup 2018.
Kroos’ desperation to make amends – Kroos will be rightly chastised for his appalling pass which led to Vlasic’s winner, but if you take that error out of his game, he was the standout for Real.
Clearly driven by a desire to make amends, the German played like a man possessed.
He led the way in key passes (four), passes (126) and touches (147), while marrying that all to an absurd 93.7-per-cent pass accuracy. And his pass map won’t be one of sideways or backwards recycling, but of forward-thinking and angled balls into the channels or pinpoint deliveries into the box.
The 28-year-old was Madrid’s best player and it was a shame the maestro midfielder gifted the game’s best opportunity to the opposition.
Kroos with an amazing assist 👏🏼😀 pic.twitter.com/2s4LxBqUTy
— مُحمد (@m_mehdar9) October 2, 2018
THE BAD
Asensio off the Marc – Marco Asensio is pinned up as the poster boy for Spanish football, but he’ll be held up as a target for derision after his performance in Moscow.
The creative impetus largely rested on him with Isco and Bale unavailable and the 22-year-old flattered to deceive. In key areas to hammer efforts off targets when the pass was on.
When he did opt to look for a team-mate, his crosses from threatening positions were well overhit and it makes you wonder if Asensio is far more effective as a substitute as opposed to a trusted starter.
Poor penetration – There was a degree of fortune for the hosts as Karim Benzema, Casemiro and substitute Mariano Diaz all struck the woodwork with cutting opportunities.
However, given the absolute domination of possession from Los Blancos, their lack of penetration between the lines was verging on farcical. Without the ingenuity of Isco, the directness of Bale and to an extent the advancing pressure from the back through Ramos, Madrid really struggled to make anything happen.
TACTICAL TURNING POINT
Switch to 4-4-2
Not exactly a turning point because it did little to impact the scoreline, but Madrid switched into 4-4-2 formation from a 4-3-3 after going a goal behind and it was not pretty.
Asensio and Benzema formed a front two, but too often the latter dropped too deep to receive possession while the former was incredibly wasteful.
The idea was to try and get more numbers into the box. Yet, whenever Kroos turned and looked to break the CSKA mold, the options were limited as Madrid players jogged forward.
Igor Akinfeev and Karim Benzema
They resorted to pointless cyclical passing around the box before lumping wayward crosses into the box for the hosts to easily defend.
Upon his arrival, Lopetegui talked of his Madrid being one hallmarked by goals. They’ve now gone more than five hours in all competitions without finding the net.
It raises serious questions as to whether a possession-heavy style of football is no longer effective in the current era.
VERDICT
CSKA Moscow – A
Those who love to see attacking football will balk at a grading which celebrates CSKA’s rigidity, but there is an art to defending and this performance needs plastering over the wall they created to keep Madrid out. This is a young team and their discipline and organisation was something to marvel at.
Real Madrid – D
It is the first time in 11 years Real Madrid have failed to score in three-straight games and to be quite honest, they seldom looked like breaking that drought in Moscow.
Yes, three chances struck the woodwork but when you factor in their dominance, it was a dire display from the visitors. When you look at this team, you see playmakers and passers but not a single goalscoring threat. That threat now resides in Italy.
