• Narration and statistics Red Bull Salzburg 0 - Real Madrid 1

A goal from Hazard saved Real Madrid's afternoon in Austria, where for the first time throughout the summer he kept his goal in good safety. It is not that the novel 3-5-2 improved defensive performance excessively, although given the above, any data for growth is welcome. Because Madrid continued to offer a deteriorated image of what it once was. More than a new, attractive, refreshing project, the symptoms point to the decline of a glorious past. The best news for Zinedine Zidane is that there are still two weeks left for the start of LaLiga. And from these wastelands it is from where the horizon is wider.

Not by a thousand times seen, Hazard's diagonal must be forgotten. The short stride, the ball in line with the right foot and the shooting with an enveloping effect. They tasted it until they satiated in London and now they will enjoy it at the Bernabéu. The Belgian, with his extra kilos, seems at the moment as the only differential signing. His multiple associations with Benzema, between the 15th minute and the break, were the best of the friendly in Salzburg. A triumph against a rival with secured place in the Champions League that also allows Zidane to gain time. On Sunday, against Rome, this team needs to keep improving.

One of the most worrying samples of these summer hesitations was the early losses at the exit of the ball. Arsenal and Atlético took full advantage of this weakness, with the speed and power of Aubameyang or Diego Costa. This time, that first pass to Casemiro or Kroos was also detected almost immediately by the Austrian champion, with two days of his championship already in his legs.

The return of Casemiro

Before the quarter of an hour, the first Madrid approach came, thanks to the creativity of Marcelo, the center of Hazard's left-hander and Benzema's shot, barely blocked by Stankovic. A way like any other to get warm for the Belgian, who got off the hook with a beautiful goal from the front, after leaving in a very fair position.

The advantage opened the door to the best minutes of Madrid, only disturbed since then with some neglect in the air game and a dismissal of Casemiro, who failed to take advantage of Minamino in the second suit. That mistake should not cloud the 45 minutes of the midfielder, the only defensive specialist available. On his return, after the vacations for the Copa América, he showed again that the collective balance cannot be conceived without its rigor.

While waiting for Pogba, this resource seems at the moment the only one within Zidane's reach. From those days of wine and roses, ruined in the trunk of memories, the technician dusts now this matter of the three centrals. A variant of the first months of 2017 to which he had to give up due to the bad results in the Pizjuán or Balaído. On this occasion, Varane, on the right, Militao on the opposite profile and Ramos on the axis. No one can be more happy than Marcelo, partly freed from those backward races that irritate him so much. Meanwhile, the former player of Porto may open a gap in the eleven and record his good tranco and expeditious style.

Worse after the break

After the break, Zidane gave rest to his two Brazilian novelties to get hold of Nacho and Valverde. The friendly, why deny it, was not going to change much with them. Madrid continued with that tone something somewhat tired, trying to avoid local pressure, fine-tuning its preparation in such a peculiar way that it spends this summer: offering the rival the greatest possible facilities. Two Varane pifias in five minutes gave hope to the Salzburg fans, who saw very close 1-1 with a failed Daka Vaseline.

They came back to Madrid like airplanes, with few passes, although very deep, with long rides that no one could stop due to the legal or criminal. In half an hour, almost no presence in rival field and a single approach of consideration. It was between Benzema and Jovic, who had just replaced Hazard. Something would have to demand Isco or Kroos, unable to seat football on the other side of the division. These long gaps are severely penalized in any LaLiga stadium.

Not even when the Red Bull pushed more desperately, neglecting his plot, did he know how to define Madrid with the sentence. Vinicius, from the left, accelerated with the same power with which he then threw everything down on the final shot. Jovic had another backlash and his goalie was safely repelled by his left foot. This minimum victory could only be resolved 0-1.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Real Madrid
  • Zinedine Zidane
  • Eden Hazard
  • Marcelo
  • Luka Jovic
  • Nacho Fernandez
  • Arsenal
  • Diego Costa
  • Isco Alarcón
  • sports
  • football
  • Preseason

International Champions Cup Atlético humiliates the worst possible Real Madrid (3-7)

SoccerWaiting for Eden Hazard

FútbolKeylor, the only change in a slow Madrid that falls again against Tottenham