Real Madrid round-up: Kroos, Zidane, Ramos, Bale...
Bale continued his scoring form in Anoeta, where Zinedine Zidane's victorious run continued and Ramos picked up a new record.
Kroos centenary
The Germany international played his 100th game for Real Madrid in Anoeta: 69 in La Liga, 24 in the Champions League, two in the Club World Cup, two in the Copa del Rey, one in the European Supercup and two in the Spanish Supercup.
Ramos record
Sergio Ramos equaled the record held by fellow card magnet Fernando Hierro by picking up a caution in Anoeta. The Real Madrid captain now stands on 143 cards in La Liga alone, the same number as Hierro racked up at the Bernabéu. Ramos has managed the feat in 100 fewer league appearances. Impressive.
League title precedents
Real Madrid have kicked off the Liga season with a victory away from home by three goals or more on seven previous occasions and went on to be crowned champions in four of those seasons: 1962-63, 1987-88, 1994-95 and 2011-12.
Zidane’s road run
Real are unbeaten away from home under the Frenchman, picking up nine wins and two draws on the road since Zidane took the reins in January. Real have lost only once since then in Liga competition, against Atlético in the Bernabéu on February 27. Zidane’s Liga record following that defeat reads played 13, won 13.
Bale form
The Welshman had his most prolific season for Real Madrid last year, with 19 goals and 11 assists, despite playing fewer minutes than he had in either of his previous two campaigns in the Spanish capital. Against Real Sociedad Bale bagged a brace to start off the season in style. Both the player and his coach are confident that this will be his most successful season to date in Madrid. The signs were positive in Anoeta, and Bale has yet to reach full match fitness.