Real Madrid dropped points in their third game from five in La Liga, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side recently losing 1-0 away to Athletic Bilbao. The result means second-placed Barcelona will top Los Blancos if they win their game in hand. But after the Bilbao result, the Real manager touched upon an issue that has reared its ugly head in recent weeks.
Forward Gareth Bale has been criticised for being selfish in possession this season, which has even led to supporters having turned on the Welsh international throughout the current campaign. Videos even emerged of Bale failing to celebrate a goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, and vice versa, suggesting there had been a fallout between the pair. Ronaldo previously hinted in the press that Bale is somewhat “greedy”.
Ancelotti started with Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo against Bilbao, and was very critical of the attacking trio, questioning their work ethic and ability to play as a team. Goals have somewhat dried up, with only one point earned and one goal scored in their last two games.
“There is no connection, there is too much individual play. It’s strange to say Madrid have a problem up front when we have scored so many goals but I think it’s the truth. The front three didn’t play well, but it is not just their fault. We need to attack as a team. It is quite confusing what we are doing when we are attacking at the moment,” said Ancelotti.
Real Madrid have won 20 of their 26 league games this season, scoring 75 goals in the league. They have blown the majority of teams away in 2014/15, but recently have been suffering with poor form. Before back-to-back league wins, Real lost 4-0 away to La Liga holders and fierce rivals Atletico Madrid, and drew at home to Villarreal prior to their recent Bilbao defeat.
It’s a very bad time for a rift in the side, with the league title coming to a conclusion. There are just 12 games to go of the current season, and Real could well be relinquishing their top spot in the table for the first time since October. They appear to be enduring a slump in form, and will come up against title-chasers Barcelona later this month.
Real’s success depends heavily on the form of their expensive attacking trio, but are the Spanish giants suffering from a lack of team ethic?
