Zinedine Zidane faces huge Real Madrid rebuilding task and other Leganes talking points

MISSING THAT CERTAIN SOMETHING

In many ways, this was a promising enough performance from Real Madrid.

Unlike past occasions this season, the team looked solid and organised. They showed a good shape defensively and were able to dominate possession without too much trouble against an opposing side who were largely content to sit back and play on the break.

It certainly wasn’t a bad display from Zidane’s men, who were in almost total control of the vast majority of action and left goalkeeper Keylor Navas with very little to do (he hadn’t made a single save before Leganes went ahead on the stroke of half-time). There was, however, just one problem – and it was a significant one: they hardly ever looked like scoring.

There was only one shot on target in the first half, an early effort from Marco Asensio following a perfectly weighted through ball from Isco. A few more followed in the second period, but not enough to reflect the team’s overall control of the game, and unconvincing finishing – especially from Asensio – meant Madrid had to settle for a draw thanks to Benzema’s strike.

Perhaps it’s getting rather tedious to continually harp back to Cristiano Ronaldo, but the presence of a penalty-box predator like the Portugal superstar is exactly what this team is missing.

It doesn’t have to be ‘another’ Ronaldo, but Los Blancos are in desperate need of a player who wants to get in the box and fire in strikes on goal. This summer will be crucial.

BENZEMA TO THE RESCUE…AGAIN

The one positive to emerge from Ronaldo’s departure has been the opportunity it has afforded to Benzema to become more of a focal point in his team’s attack.

And the Frenchman has certainly delivered, with his equaliser in this encounter taking him to 27 goals in all competitions, giving him a chance to overhaul his career-best 32 in the title-winning 2011/12 campaign.

Benzema is in particularly rich form at the moment, netting five goals in his last four games and being directly responsible for six points during that period (a winner against Huesca, both goals in the 2-1 victory over Eibar and the leveller at Leganes). He also linked play superbly, creating chances for Asensio and Marcelo with a pair of beautiful touches.

Although he is now 31-years old, the Frenchman’s immediate future in the team looks secure, but just think how much he would benefit from the presence of a penalty box predator alongside him – somebody to finish off what he starts and provide another source of goals.

After Benzema’s tally of 18, the team’s second-highest scorer in the league is Gareth Bale with only eight and, returning to the point already made above, the need to give Benzema a decent strike partner is paramount.

LONG-BALL LEGANES SHATTER THE STEREOTYPES

There is a common misconception about La Liga among some football fans – especially those who never watch it – that the Spanish top flight is a boring procession of tippy-tappy teams who overplay the ball sideways and backwards through midfield and never take one pass to get the ball forward when ten will do.

Leganes are a shining example that the stereotype is wrong. Mauricio Pellegrino’s team are not pretty to watch.

They are not interested in clever passing triangles. They do not insist upon walking the ball into the net.

But they are highly effective, and outperforming all expectations by leaping into the fringes of the race for a place in next season’s Europa League.

Although it was exquisitely finished by Silva, the opening goal showed exactly what kind of team Leganes are: it came from a long throw from the right flank, flicked on at the near post, battled for inside the box and then laid back to the edge of the area for a shot on goal. Tony Pulis, eat your heart out.

A few weeks ago, Real Betis boss Quique Setien – the purist’s purist – decried the tactical approach of Leganes by saying they “only do four things.” But even Setien would acknowledge that Leganes do those things very well, and there is more than one way of winning a football match. Even in La Liga.