Real Madrid achieve best defensive record in 32 years

Real Madrid’s defensive record in the first half of the season has been the club’s best in 32 years.

After 19 games, Madrid have conceded just 12 goals, a figure the club has not reached since the 1987-88 season, when they had Francisco Buyo in goal.

The figure is in stark contrast to that of last season, when Los Blancos closed the first half of the campaign having conceded 24 goals, twice as many as it has now.

It was the club’s second-worst concession record of the 21st century, after the 27 goals conceded in the first half of 2008-2009 season, with Casillas in goal and Schuster and Juande on the bench.

Courtois’ impressive transformation

The low number of goals conceded this season has mainly come down to the improving performances of Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian keeper has gone from conceding 6 goals and making only 7 stops from 13 shots in the first four league games, to three goals conceded and 27 saves from 30 shots in the following 12 matches he has played.

At Getafe on Saturday, the 27-year-old earned a third consecutive clean sheet, having made three impressive saves in the first half to deny the hosts a goal.

For his part, Madrid number two Alphonse Areola has conceded three goals in the three full league games he has played: two against Granada and one against Alavés.

Goals conceded by Real Madrid in the first half of the season

GP - Games Played; GC - Goals Conceded; CS - Clean sheets

Figure in brackets after each keeper is the no. of games played (not goals conceded)

Sources: LaLiga Digital Encyclopedia Digital and BDFutbol.