Yellow warning for Madrid in last league game ahead of UCL final
Goodbye La Liga 2017/18 season! It will be one of the seasons that the Los Blancos faithful will be eager to forget in a hurry with regards to Real Madrid’s performance on the domestic scene.
Meanwhile, although the performance has been short of the club’s standard, on an individual level, one Real Madrid player who’ll also be eager to forget the season at the domestic level is Karim Benzema.
The Frenchman’s performance in the La Liga is one of the reasons why Real Madrid’s finish below city rivals Atletico Madrid in the 2017/18 season has been officially confirmed.
The Real Madrid center forward is not even in the list of the top 50 goalscorers in the 2017/18 La Liga as he was also behind in goals when compared to likes of Isco and Asensio who scored 7 and 6 goals respectively for Real Madrid in the League campaign.
Benzema finished the season with a meagre 5 goals to his name despite numerous appearances. Little wonder, Real Madrid struggled domestically.
Well, the La Liga season ended in no better fashion as they relinquished a 2 goal lead and eventually drew 2 all away to Villareal in their final game of the 2017/18 season. Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 11th and 32nd minute respectively to give Real Madrid a 2 goal cushion at halftime.
However, with an eye on the night in Kiev, Zinedine Zidane subbed off two of the side’s key men in the persons of Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 60th minute and the capitulation began as Villareal substitute Martinez pulled one back in the 67th minute before another substitute Castillejo restored parity for the Yellow Submarines in the 85th minute.
This is one game that Klopp and his men would have seen whilst rubbing their hands with glee at the outcome, and there are guarantees that the German would have taken some notes.
Real Madrid face a formidable Liverpool attack in Kiev and tonight’s performance could be a warning that they would need to stay fully concentrated against the attacking trio of Salah, Firmino, and Mane.
The Los Blancos’ road to Kiev from the commencement of the Knockout phases has not been devoid of shockers which they eventually escaped from over two legs, but this might not be the case on the night in Kiev.
Meanwhile, all attention will be focused on the night in Kiev as Zidane and his men will look to commence training for the game against Liverpool as the domestic season has officially ended.
