La Liga 2018/19: Eibar vs Real Madrid

Last time out in La Liga, Real Madrid looked like world beaters as they saw off Celta Vigo. Confidence was high as the European champions traveled to the Basque Country to face Eibar at Estadio de Ipurua. Instead, it ended in a historic 3-0 defeat, the first time the minnows had ever beaten Real Madrid.

It started poorly right from the off as Kike Garcia rocked the Real woodwork. Sergio Escalante didnt wait long to break the deadlock just after the quarter of an hour mark. In the second half, there was no improvement either. Marc Cucurella tore the visitors apart, capitalising on an amateurish mistake from Alvaro Odriozola to set up Sergi Enrich. The latter then assisted Kike Garcia to add a third before the hour mark. Here, our tactical analysis will use statistics to identify what key points Real Madrid can take from the game as they saw their return to form come to an end.

Gareth Bale is more of a liability than an asset

It all started so well for Gareth Bale. With just five minutes on the clock he fired home with a rasping finish from the edge of the box. Then a pesky linesman intervened to rule it out for offside. VAR confirmed that the decision was correct, but it was the last that anyone saw of the Welshman. His goal threat was non-existent as he mustered just 0.11 xG, his second worst figure of the season. His only worse xG performance came in the thrashing that Los Blancos suffered in El Clasico.

When offering nothing in attack its vital that he does his work defensively, but he couldnt manage that either. Time after time Eibar exploited his lack of tracking back down Real Madrids right flank. Barcelona loanee Marc Cucurella took advantage more than anyone else, being involved in all three goals. Just minutes before the opening goal, Eibar burst forward down that flank as they would again to break the deadlock. Jose Angel spotted Bales weakness and took advantage.