Real Madrid talking points after slender 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

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  • Karim Benzema celebrates his winner

    Karim Benzema’s early strike and Thibaut Courtois’ late heroics at the other end saw Real Madrid narrowly nudge past Rayo Vallecano 1-0 at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

    Los Blancos, aiming to put their flattening 3-0 defeat Champions League to CSKA Moscow in midweek firmly in the rear-view mirror, got off to a fast start.

    Benzema swept the ball wide to Lucas Vazquez, before bursting into the area and confidently finishing from the Spaniard’s clever reverse pass in the 13th minute.

    However, Santiago Solari’s side struggled to make inroads and were fortune to escape with victory in the end, requiring Courtois to twice deny the visitors in quick succession late on.

    Here are the main talking points.

    ASENSIO’S DECISION MAKING

    Marco Asensio (C)

    Marco Asensio (C)

    Real supporters would rightly question just how their side were only one up against a limited Rayo. The answer was simple – Marco Asensio. Now, this is not meant to torture the 22-year-old anymore than his frustrating performance will have done so.

    But it is clear the young Spaniard is suffering a crisis of confidence. You cannot fault his endeavour – the generous applause from the Bernabeu crowd when he exited in the 71st minute, curiously for midfielder Dani Ceballos, indicative of his effort.

    However, for a player who is so sharp when operating on instinct, his mind has looked decidedly blunt. Indeed, on two occasions, one in each half, Asensio had prime opportunities to stretch Real’s lead but fired straight at Stole Dimitrievski.

    In the first situation, Asensio intelligently beat the offside trap to burst clean through, only to fail in finding an angle to match his bending run. For the second, Luka Modric’s clever cut back found him on the penalty spot and he smashed it straight at Dimitrievski.

    He opted for power, when placement would have sufficed for both opportunities, and in doing so, gave an insight into his mental fragility.

    His frustration at being brought off is a positive sign, though. He’s desperate to end his dry run – the forward has one goal and one assist in his last 18 games in all competitions for Real – and that attitude, married to his talent, will see him return to form soon.

    TIME TO GIVE VINICIUS MORE MINUTES

    Vinicius Junior (L)

    Vinicius Junior (L)

    This point is invariably attached to the previous, but Vinicius Junior should be handed more meaningful minutes.

    The teenager has the type of enticing talent which can blow defenders away and change the course of tight encounters. Granted, he is only 18-years old and at the very top level, incredibly raw. His delightful display in the dire 3-0 defeat midweek, though, pointed to a player who is not strangled by immaturity.

    If you take Asensio as an example, when you’re more experienced, the pressure is palpable. You understand the consequences of your actions and that can curtail your natural ability.

    For Vinicius, he does not carry that weight and so can provide that spark Madrid require. He was eventually introduced for the injured Benzema late one, but it was far too late for him to find his rhythm.

    The fans would certainly be happy to see him feature more…

    MUTTERINGS FROM MADRIDSTAS 

    Santiago Solari

    Santiago Solari

    Midway through the second half, the collective Bernabeu hush was briefly pierced by a spattering of boos.

    Madrid fans are notorious for expressing their frustration, even in perplexing circumstances like on Saturday when their team is ahead.

    Perhaps they knew more was required against the stubborn visitors and when Courtois produced two imperative stops in injury time, that feeling was probably justified.

    But what’s clear is that Madrid are really missing some fizz at the moment and in the second half against Rayo, they were decidedly flat.

    The fact they’ve scored the same amount of goals as a pragmatic Atletico Madrid so far this season (24 each), tells you what and who they are missing.

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