Days after being humiliated by CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid were back at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu up against much different opposition in Rayo Vallecano. Santiago Solari stuck with many who returned to the team in midweek, starting with the likes of Toni Kroos and Marcelo, and he got his reward with a narrow 1-0 win. It was an inspired finish from Karim Benzema, who collected the ball on the halfway line, played a crossfield pass to Lucas Vazquez and then dashed to the box to add the finish too. Here, our tactical analysis will use statistics to identify what key points Real Madrid can take from the game as they made it three consecutive wins in La Liga.
Close, but not close enough, again for Marco Asensio
Given only his second La Liga start under Solari, Marco Asensio failed to capitilise and the frustration showed. His attacking play was not disappointing, regularly getting himself into threatening positions and pulling the Rayo defence apart with his movements and runs both on and off the ball, but he twice could have found the net before being hauled off in the 70th minute.
The first chance came in the first half when his breakthrough run exploited the space in the opposition defence, bursting through with pace. Asensio rapidly found himself one on one with Stole Dimitrievski, but could only fire the ball weakly at the goalkeepers feet. More would have been expected and perhaps it was playing on his mind early in the second half when he had an even better effort. As the ball fell his way in acres of space in the box, he could only fire the ball straight at Dimitrievski yet again.
On both occasions, Asensio would have been expected to score. It is now 17 games for club and country, excluding two Copa del Rey outings against third division Melilla, since the youngster has found the back of the net. In the campaign in which he was tipped to replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the line-up, he is instead left fighting for his place in the squad and struggling to prove that he justifies a starting role. After Christmas, much more will be expected from Asensio.
Thibaut Courtois is showing his worth
Real Madrid signed Thibaut Courtois in the summer to win points and he was at it yet again on Saturday. Rayo Vallecano were left without their main threat, Real Madrid loanee Raul de Tomas, and struggled to really generate many opportunities up until injury time. The Belgian goalkeeper then produced a double stop which produced 0.49 of Rayos 0.84 xG over the full 90 minutes, reacting rapidly to Alex Alegrias overhead kick and then Emiliano Velazquezs follow up.
It is moments like t
