Real Madrid 4-1 Leganés match report: LaLiga 2018/19 matchday 3

Real Madrid 4-1 Leganés: match report

Where would the goals come from? was the question. Who would be responsible for putting the ball in the back of the net for Real Madrid now Cristiano Ronaldo has headed off to Italy? The answer so far: Bale, Benzema and Ramos. They’d all already scored coming into this evening’s match against Leganés and all went home having added to their haul. Bale, lively throughout was a constant threat (if his touch was as superhuman as his pace, he’d be one of the true all time greats), and he grabbed the first, swivelling marvellously to slam home a Carvajal knock back. That’s his third in the Liga so far, having scored in the opener against Getafe and against Girona in last weekend’s trip to the northeast. Leganés surprised everyone by grabbing a goal on their first attack, when Casemiro was so shocked to find himself defending (possession at this point was a fairly ridiculous 86:14) he clumsily collapsed into Eraso in the box and Carrillo knocked the penalty home, giving debutant Courtois, a surprise choice over Keylor Navas no chance.

Benzema provided a brace in the second half

Real Madrid dropped their aggression and incisiveness after the goal and with movement drying up in attack the fans began to fret again about who was going to provide the spark Ronaldo so often used to. They had no need to worry, Benzema realised something was needed and produced two moments of wonderful skill to effectively put the match to bed. Just two minutes after the break Benzema held off a challenge from Silva, standing his ground to perfectly cushion a header past Cuéllar. The goal was initially chalked off, the referee erroneously deciding Benzema had been at fault in the tussle with Silva, before his officials up in the VAR box asked him to have another look. He did so and spotted if anything it was Silva who’d been up to no good. 2-1 and the nerves around the Bernabéu settled. Just over 10 minutes later and Benzema conjured up a delightful goal, linking up well before striding across the top of the box and burying a diagonal ball back across the goal in the bottom corner. 3-1 and the questions were mostly forgotten.

Ramos, who had scored Real Madrid’s first penalty against Girona (Benzema got the second) was called upon for spot-kick duties in the 66th minute and he made no mistake, sending Cuéllar the wrong way and putting Madrid 4-1 up. Leganés were done by this point, sending up the occasional foray into Real Madrid territory in a bid to convince that they were still in the match, but in reality the remainder of the game was an exercise in seeing whether Real Madrid could boost their goal difference further. They had chances, from Bale, Benzema and a fine snapshot from Isco (who came on for Modric), but the net remained untroubled.

Courtois, making his debut for Real Madrid and relegating Keylor Navas to the bench, had almost nothing to do all match, saving one Santos shot just before half-time and occasionally coming out to claim through balls at the edge of his area. Navas meanwhile presented his Uefa keeper of the year trophy to the Bernabéu before the match with a rather glum look on his face.

Lopetegui is going to have difficult questions to answer about who is in his goalmouth for any given match this season, but on the evidence so far the questions about who is going to replace Ronaldo’s goals may be more easily answered.

Real Madrid 4-1 Leganés: live online | latest news

Real Madrid vs Leganés: live online | match preview

Los Blancos welcome Leganés from across the city to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu at 20:45 CEST on Saturday. The home side are clear favourites to take another three points but there has been enough rustiness seen in their opening pair of fixtures to give the Cucumber Growers at least a little hope of springing a surprise.

Real Madrid: Modric could be back

Lopetegui is building, slowly but, from the early games seen so far, surely. Two wins from two in LaLiga, goals from key players who needed to stand up after Cristiano's departure, and some of his headliners still to be fully integrated. The signs are tentatively positive. Today against Leganés is yet another chance to bed in his ideas and further build a momentum to take his side into the bigger games that lie ahead.

Luka Modric was crowned Uefa's best player in Monaco on Thursday, a trophy he can add to player of the tournament at the World Cup. Leganés at home in game three may be his first as a starter. In what was a quiet transfer window for Los Blancos, Thibaut Courtois was arguably the most significant addition to the squad yet the former Atlético goalkeeper is yet to play a minute of competitive football for his new club. Another player returning to the Spanish capital, Mariano, does so with plenty of ambition. He may have been handed the iconic number seven shirt, but he is almost certainly going to start this game on the bench. Whether or not he can push his way in front of the other forwards will depend on one of two factors: his own prolificacy or injury to others.

Lopetegui will decide if Varane or Nacho will partner Sergio Ramos in defence while he will be mindful of the problems Madrid had in their left-back area against Girona. The Marcelo of old needs to stand up.

Leganés: Carrillo is the threat

Madrid welcome Los Pepineros to the Bernabéu, who arrive as massive underdogs to take anything from the game. But Pellegrino will have his side hungry and ready to battle for every ball. The side has an attrition of players in rest season unlike most, with only two starters remaining from the team that played Madrid a couple of seasons ago. This summer 14 new recruits arrived, and the manager is bringing them into the fold little by little.

Carrillo is their Argentinean point-man. Expect directness from the visitors for the times that they are in possession, and for their main man up front to be asked to win the long ball. At over 60%, Carrillo leads the charts in winning aerial duels. Santos will be close by looking to feed off him.

Injuries don't help their cause, however, and they'll miss Szymanowski, Arnáiz and Raúl Garcia, with Bustinza one of those to come in. More disappointment too, as loanees Óscar and Lunin are ineligible to play due to the agreement in their contract. There is no pressure on Leganés tonight, but a Madrid side still finding its feet could offer them an opportunity to cause a shock.