Real Madrid got back to winning ways away from home as they put an end to their dreadful run of away form in domestic competitions. Gareth Bales early volley gifted Santiago Solaris team a crucial 1-0 victory over minnows and bottom side Huesca to put Los Blancos back amongst the top four of La Liga. Here, our tactical analysis will use statistics to identify what key points Real Madrid can take from the game as they secured a win at the Estadio El Alcoraz.
Bale is back& Right?
Three months, 11 games, 3.06 xG and plenty of criticism later, Gareth Bale returned to the scoresheet in La Liga with a rasping volley into the bottom corner of the net in just the eighth minute against Huesca. In fact, it was arguably one of the hardest chances he has had in all of that time, with his goal carrying an xG of just 0.06 with a dipping cross coming in at a narrow angle in a crowded penalty area. Yet the Welshman took it with aplomb.
Such clinical finishing is just what Solari has been after and it showed that Bale is slowly but surely regaining his confidence. He has not had more shots on target in a single game than the four that he managed on Saturday since facing Celta Vigo in May and appears to be getting back to the form that he had at the tail end of previous campaign where he scored six goals in just four games, including a Champions League final.
Completing more dribbles, winning more of his offensive duels and having more touches in the box than at any other time since November, the improvement was clear to see. Bale is on his way back and there could be no better news for Real Madrid to receive as they desperately look for someone to lead their attack.
A clean sheet on the road at last
For the first time since March in La Liga, Real Madrid have finally kept a clean sheet. It was through as much luck as judgement in reality, but it was one of the teams strongest defensive displays of the campaign by far. Just two real chances were afforded to the hosts, through Xabier Etxeita and Gonzalo Melero, though both could easily have been converted early on in each half.
There is still c
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