Real Madrid enters winter break 2 points behind leader Barcelona
Real Madrid finished 2019 with growing concerns over its attack and trailing Barcelona by two points as the Spanish league starts its winter break.
Zinedine Zidane will face questions about Madrid´s scoring slump after it was held 0-0 at home by a tame Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. The slip at the Santiago Bernabeu came after drawing 1-1 at Valencia and 0-0 at Barcelona over the past week.
One goal in three matches is a paltry return for one of the richest clubs in the world.
“Having had so many chances, we are a bit angry at ourselves, but this is football,” Zidane said. “In the last three games we have had many scoring chances but few goals. I don’t think it is bad luck or a lack of killer instinct. The important thing is that we are creating chances. We will keep that up and the goals will come.”
The league resumes in the first week of January.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Madrid dominated possession but the goalkeeping of Unai Simón, the woodwork, and the lack of a scoring touch saved Bilbao.
Toni Kroos, Nacho Fernández, and Luka
Jovic all sent shots off the goal-frame for the hosts.
Simón stopped Vinicius Junior in front of his goal after the young Brazilian had cut back around the final defender in the game’s first scoring opportunity in the 12th minute. Vinicius squandered two more opportunities, not cleanly connecting with Luka Modric’s cross before he failed to control a loose ball in the goalmouth.
Simón deflected Kroos’ point-blank effort in the 19th onto the crossbar after Bilbao’s passive back line had let him advance through the box. Simón also saved shots on goal from Karim Benzema.
Bilbao’s attack consisted in the rare long ball won by Iñaki Williams or a quick counterattack. Williams had Bilbao’s only threat saved by Thibaut Courtois in the 20th.
Fernández smashed a header off the crossbar in the 59th shortly after replacing Eder Militao, who injured his right eye. Late substitute Jovic headed off the base of the post with four minutes remaining.
“It was a hard-earned point,” Simón said. “We were helped by the woodwork, but we did a good job and I think we did enough to deserve the draw.”
Bilbao is in seventh place, immediately above Valencia.