Real Madrid's "B team" prove Zidane right
An excellent late goal from Marco Asensio was the highlight for Real Madrid in their visit to Leganés last night. Well, that along with a fine performance from Lucas Vázquez who never stops running. The final score sees Madrid with one foot in the semi-final but the scoreline can't detract from the fact that we witnessed yet, once again an average performance. Another poor game and this time from Zidane's "B team" who if anything proved him right in sticking with his familiar and often used Cardiff team. Each time I see the main team play, I lament Zidane's lack of changing things about but that sensation quickly evaporates when I see the reserve players playing so meekly, stumbling their way from game to game.
Vázquez the exception
I would have to exclude Lucas Vázquez from the previous comment along with Nacho couldn't be deemed a reserve team player as an almost ever-present in the first team. What does surprise me is the way Ceballos has yet to find his form, Llorente's frailty, how Theo seems lost and how Asensio has dropped off the radar along with Kovacic's anonymity on the field. Not too many criticisms can be aimed at Borja Mayoral as a centre forward is always the victim of a docile team. Vallejo, also managed to injure himself once again and it's been a case of one step forward, two backwards for the defender this season.
Asensio strike
Leganés played as we thought they would, a well disciplined side with little attacking threat who were happy to keep Madrid at bay in the first 45 minutes. In the second period Garitano was slightly more ambitious with a ball hitting the Madrid crossbar and Beauvue calling Casilla into action saving well from a well directed strike. "Lega" could have won 1-0, seemed to be happy with a 0-0 but ultimately fell to a late Asensio goal to take a reverse 0-1 into next week's second leg. The goal was well worked with Theo pushing forward delivering a fine ball into the area and exquisitely dispatched into the net from Asensio. An excellent goal which was so out of keeping with the rest of what we witnessed at Butarque on the night.