La Liga 2018/19: Real Madrid Vs Real Valladolid

This post originally featured on our comprehensive Real Madrid analysis sister site, realmadridanalysis.com.

Santiago Solari made his Estadio Santiago Bernabeu debut as Real Madrid coach on Saturday but it was far from the dream start that he may have been dreaming for. Rather than a steamrolling of Real Valladolid, now owned by former team-mate Ronaldo Nazario, it was a struggle which, for the most part, looked like it could have gone either way. In the end, luck told and finally it swung Real Madrids way with an own goal and a Sergio Ramos penalty, a la Panenka, giving his team a vital three points in La Liga for the first time since September. Here, our tactical analysis will use statistics to identify what key points Real Madrid can take from the game as they got back to winning ways.

Sergio Reguilon is a talent in the making

There were plenty of concerns when it was confirmed that the youngster would be the back-up to Marcelo this season. The 21-year-old spent last season playing in the third tier but when given his La Liga debut on Saturday, he looked the best man on the pitch against Real Valladolid. In fact, only Thibaut Courtois and Sergio Ramos boasted a higher successful actions rate than Sergio Reguilons 77% and neither of them were as offensive or risk-taking as the left-back.

One area in which he really excelled was in his attacking contribution. Reguilon made more crosses, with eight, and completed more, five, than anyone else, bursting down the flank with real threat, often exploiting space as Real Valladolid drifted to the right and allowed him space to roam free. That opened up space for him to complete all of his five dribbles, win all of his offensive duels and even make more progressive runs than Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema put together.

Defensively he was strong too, with only Sergio Ramos winning more interceptions than the youngster. There is still room for improvement, but for a La Liga debut, it could not have been much better for the youngster. If Julen Lopetegui is to have a legacy at the club, Reguilons role with the first team may become the strongest positive of all.

Vinicius Junior dares where Gareth Bale doesnt

Where Gareth Bale looked dull and lacked any real incisive threat, the confidence, and perhaps naivety, of Vinicius Junior saw him reap rewards. Whereas in 70 minutes, Bale made just one progressive run, the Brazilian teenager doubled his return in just 20 minutes. That bravery was what made the difference and would bring about the first goal, with his pace and energy dragging Valladolids rigid system apart.

Exploiting the gap left by