Madrid humiliated by minnows Eibar as Solari’s flying start grinds to a halt
Santiago Solari had been the perfect caretaker but his debut as permanent manager of Real Madrid yesterday ended in a disastrous 3-0 defeat at Eibar.
Four wins while in temporary charge earned Solari a contract until 2021 over the international break, only for Real to revert to the kind of chaotic display that earned Julen Lopetegui the sack.
This defeat also brought into focus the mindset of Madrid’s players, after their captain Sergio Ramos faced allegations of an anti-doping violation on Friday night from German magazine Der Spiegel. The club denied any breach, while the player issued a statement saying he was “vehemently opposed to doping”.
Eibar were stronger, more aggressive and, worryingly for Solari, appeared clearer about the plan they wanted to execute.
Marc Cucurella, brilliant down the left, was instrumental in all three goals, scored by Gonzalo Escalante, Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia.
Real’s loss halts their revival under Solari and denies them a golden opportunity to make up ground on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who faced each other at the Wanda Metropolitano later last night.
“It is not about finding people to blame,” Solari said afterwards. “Everything is fixable. We had won four straight games, done some things very well, and we have to get back to that.”
Defender Raphael Varane added: “We were not well-organised, we were not comfortable and we did not find any answers.” Eibar, meanwhile, shoot up to seventh, a reward for their first victory over Real Madrid at the 11th attempt, inside their tiny 7,083-capacity Ipurua. “We could even have scored more,” said their manager Jose Luis Mendilibar.
Ramos was not noticeably out of sorts, but perhaps allegations he failed to list the correct medication after the Uefa Champions League final in 2017, proved enough of a distraction for his teammates.
They started well enough and Gareth Bale looked in the mood when he swivelled and sent a stunning shot into the top corner from 25 yards, only to be ruled offside.
Karim Benzema went close, his finish cleared off the line by Jose Cote, but after surviving the early pressure, Eibar grew in confidence.
Thibaut Courtois pushed a 25-yard Kike strike on to the woodwork. The Madrid goalkeeper came to their rescue again in the 16th minute, denying Enrich from Cucurella’s cross, but this time Escalante was on hand to bundle in the rebound.
Referee Juan Martinez consulted the Video Assistant Referee but the delay only earned a repeat of home fans’ cheers.
Solari gave his first half time team talk with his team behind, but their situation deteriorated in the second half.
Toni Kroos’ misjudged and misdirected crossfield pass exposed the unfortunate recipi- ent Alvaro Odriozola. Cucurella pounced, pushing Odriozola off the ball and delivering for Enrich to score.
Odriozola was forced off injured and five minutes later it was three, this time Varane was at fault, allowing Kike to nip in and convert another whipped Cucurella cross.