Real Madrid round-up: Ceballos, half-full Bernabéu, Modric, LaLiga
The latest Real Madrid news, including 10 wins in a row against Getafe, Bale feeling good, Lopetegui and Modric slamming Inter rumours...
Winning run against Getafe
Real Madrid got their 2018/19 LaLiga season off to a winning start with a 2-0 triumph over Getafe, which was their 10th consecutive win over the side from south Madrid. The last time Real Madrid failed to beat their neighbours was on 26 August 2012, when Mourinho’s side were beaten 2-1.
Half-empty Bernabéu
There were only 48,446 fans in the ground for the win over Getafe, Real Madrid’s worst home attendance at a Liga match in 10 years (just 44,270 spectators turned up to see Mallorca on 24 May 2009). A perfect storm of a not particularly enticing rival (apols Getafe), it being mid-August when about 77% of Madrileños are away at the coast on holiday and a game that started at a somewhat ridiculous 10:15pm.
Live footage during the match
New season and a new way of watching the match in the Bernabéu - the few fans who were there got to enjoy the video screens in the stadium now showing the game live as it happens. Great if you’re in row A behind the goals and the action is happening up the other end of the pitch.
Lopetegui on Ceballos
After the match Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui said he was was pleased with the result, but there was still work to do. Having played Ceballos in Casemiro’s role the coach said about the former Betis player: “He had a really interesting game. He’s got so much character, he’s so good at football and he works so hard. He’ll help us a lot, there’s no doubt about it”. Meanwhile Ceballos, who barely featured under Zidane, said he didn’t have a problem with the former coach: “I have no complaints about Zidane, he made me more mature.”
No debutants
Neither Courtois nor Vinicius, the possible debutants, made it on to the pitch last night for Real Madrid.
Ovation for Modric
When the Croatian came on for Ceballos in the 71st minute he was greeted with a warm burst of applause. The Gazette dello Sport published yesterday that Modric had contacted Inter, looking for a move. The player has now come out and slammed the rumours as nonsense.
100 wins for Lucas
Yesterday was Lucas Vázquez’s 100th win with Real Madrid. He’s played in 138 games for the first team.