Stade Pierre-Mauroy was not the paradise Real Madrid expected last night as it threw their way a hungry opposition in Lille who made Los Blancos struggle until the very end.
The men in white were far from their best, dry in the buildup and uninspiring in the final third. A penalty late in the first half, moreover, did not help as they gifted the hosts the lead on the night.
Their failure to conjure an equaliser in the 45 minutes that remained, however, handed them a stunning defeat in the UEFA Champions League, their first loss in the competition since last May.
More importantly, it sends the team down the league stage standings to 17th place, even behind Barcelona who lost to Monaco on Matchday 1.
Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways for Carlo Ancelotti from the first defeat of the season.
A downward spiral
Coming into Wednesday’s game, Real Madrid were not in the best of spirits after the events that unfolded at the weekend.
The controversial Madrid derby was heavy on the dressing room and served as an emotionally draining result in multiple ways. After all, the team not only faced late heartbreak but were also affected by controversy in the stands.
The Champions League clash against Lille was thus always going to be about how the men in white responded to the setback faced midweek and it is safe to say that they did not strike back how one expected.
The version of Real Madrid that stepped onto the field last night did not show the spark the team usually displays in Europe and were dull for great parts of the game.
Lacking inspiration, they dragged through 90 minutes without really asserting themselves and with very poor finishing in the final third.
Winning with unconvincing performances was always going to be unsustainable in the long run, but with a draw and a defeat in their last two games, Los Blancos are on a downward spiral for the first time this season.
Mediocre midfield
While Kylian Mbappe did make the squad to face Lille last night, he was not fit enough to start, prompting Carlo Ancelotti to once again opt for the 4-4-2 system that worked well last season.
The midfield, however, largely disappointed last night, especially from a creativity front as the players lacked the required movements and symphony to play through Lille’s tight lines.
Ancelotti deployed Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga as the double pivot on the night to hold the fortress while Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde played higher as interiors.
With none of the players growing into the ‘mediapunta’ role, the team lacked presence in the final third especially given that both forwards were wingers by trade.
It was only after Luka Modric and Arda Guler’s introduction in the second half that the Merengues began getting the ball to forwards in space and creating some outlets in attack. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late.
Ancelotti thus has a lot to ponder about, especially over the system and choice of players heading into the next game. The team, after all, desperately needs more presence in the final third.
Endrick’s horror show
Endrick made a stunning debut in the UEFA Champions League on Matchday 1 for Real Madrid, coming off the bench and scoring a screamer against VfB Stuttgart to seal the win for his team.
Last night, the manager honoured his contributions with a first start and it is safe to say that he endured a torrid night that he will hope to forget.
The Brazilian youngster took Rodrygo’s place in the lineup and added nothing to Real Madrid’s presence on the field. He was largely invisible with little to no contribution to either the buildup or the attack.
In close to an hour on the field, Endrick completed six passes averaging out to one pass every ten minutes. All in all, he had just 19 touches of the ball and recorded one shot on target.
Still just 18 years of age, the youngster has a lot to learn and a long way to go. Last night’s game, however, provides a reality check of the areas he must strive to improve in at the earliest.