No home comforts for Zidane’s Real
CHAMPIONS HAVE YET TO WIN AT BERNABEU Despite 27 shots at goal against Betis, Madrid draw a blank.
Zinedine Zidane lamented Real Madrid’s home woes as the Spanish and European champions slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat to Real Betis on Wednesday.
The result means Real are without a win in their three league games at the Bernabeu this season, having also drawn with Valencia and Levante.
They now sit seven points behind pacesetters Barcelona, who are the only side left in La Liga with a perfect record after five games.
Madrid enjoyed 60% possession and had 27 efforts at goal to their visitors’ 12, however their dominance was of no consolation to the Frenchman.
“The ball just didn’t want to go in for us,” Zidane told reporters. “If you score one chance it’s a totally different game, but when it doesn’t want to go in, results like this can happen.
“We need to remain calm, but it’s just two points from nine at home. I feel for the players, the effort they’ve put in. When the opponents score like that at the end it hurts.
“Next time we have a game at home we have to ensure we do everything we can to win and change this bad run.”
It was the first time in 73 matches Real had not scored as former Madrid goalkeeper Antonio Adan ensured his boyhood club went away empty-handed and captain Sergio Ramos was also frustrated.
“It’s not normal in these matches at home against sides who on paper would normally be leaving the Bernabeu with a different result,” Ramos said.
“We need to be self-critical and turn the page.
“Hopefully it’s just a problem with being clinical. We did everything we could, but there’s not been a ruthless side to our finishing.
“Another day it finishes 4-0 or 4-1 and everything is okay.”
News did not get better for Zidane as fullback Marcelo limped off with a hamstring problem.
“It might well be the muscle has gone but it needs to be tested,” Zidane said.
“We played better than Betis but the result is what matters. I would prefer to play badly and take the three points. We had possession, chances. Last year we won some games we didn’t deserve to and this year it looks like the opposite but we can’t go mad about it.” –