Real Madrid ran out 4-2 winners at Butarque against an ambitious Leganes side who caused "Madrid B" plenty of problems. The visitors eased to a 3-0 lead through James Rodriguez and a brace from Alvaro Morata but were pegged back with two goals in two minutes from Gabriel and Luciano. Morata forced the fourth from a James cross, somewhat fortunately completing the hat trick with a header that took a significant deflection off Martin Mantovani's hand.

Positives

Zinedine Zidane made nine changes to the side that beat Alaves last weekend and the attacking stand-ins proved they can stand out in the absence of the big names. Marco Asensio was excellent despite having barely had a kick in 2017 and Morata grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

Negatives

Real switched off at 3-0 to let Leganes back into the game and allowed their opponents too many free headers. If the La Liga title is decided on goal difference Zidane and his players will look back on games like this with more than a tinge of regret.

Manager rating out of 10

6 -- Zidane was bold to place his trust in the fringe players and it paid off. The Frenchman's priority was three points, not a polished performance. That said, he failed to react to Casemiro being outnumbered at the base of midfield, which did not escape his opposite number as Leganes targeted the Brazilian.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Keylor Navas, 6 -- Navas should have stopped Luciano's effort and avoided some serious embarrassment when he lost the flight of the ball in the second half with no idea where his back post was. A couple of solid claims did nothing to dispel growing doubts over the keeper's form ahead of more testing fixtures.

DF Danilo, 6 -- Danilo had a decent first half, making a couple of vital headed clearances and threatening when going forward but he was AWOL when Diego Rico got to the byline for Lega's opener. He faded a little in the second period but this was mildly encouraging from the Brazilian. 

DF Sergio Ramos, 6 -- Ramos was at fault for Lega's opener, holding the high defensive line then too busy appealing for offside to react to Rico's run and deflecting his cross invitingly into Gabriel's path. In the air, he was imperious, winning seven duels.  

DF Nacho, 6 -- Not a game up to Nacho's recent standards, he was out of position for the first goal and static for the second, although that applies to the entire back four. Got a vital flick-on for Real's second but was not his usual assured presence at the back.

DF Marcelo, 5 -- Marcelo played as though trying to ensure he was available for Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich and only came to life in the last 15 minutes. If Real had a genuine challenger in his position he wouldn't have been on the pitch at all and during the first half it was easy to forget that he was.

MF Mateo Kovacic, 6 -- Kovacic played a great ball for Morata's second, taking out two covering defenders, but was loose in possession and looked more eager to get forward than to help out stemming the blue-and-white tide.

MF Casemiro, 6 -- Did what he could on his own but was frequently dispossessed, as often he put in a tackle and gave the ball away on the edge of his own area with a woeful pass at the start of the second half.

MF James Rodriguez, 7 -- James opened the scoring, assisted Real's fourth with one of several pinpoint free kicks and hit the corner leading to the second. Flagged after the break and was first off, thumping the dugout in frustration, but he needs to offer more defensively to convince Zidane.

FW Lucas Vazquez, 7 -- Put in a good challenge on Rico off at 3-1 when the Lega man was through and was active at both ends as ever. Vazquez was denied a goal by two great saves from Iago Herrerin and certainly deserved one after a Gascoigne-esque move late on, adding sparkle to his standard graft.

FW Alvaro Morata, 9 -- Morata really can't do much more to earn a starting berth and is oozing confidence. His ninth and 10th goals of the season were a cushioned header back over the keeper and an expert finish from inside the area while his aerial prowess secured Real's fourth and completed his hat trick. 

FW Marco Asensio, 8 -- Asensio performed another of his turf chewing wonder-runs, skipping over challenges to put the opener on a plate for James. One of Real's best on the night, Zidane will one day build a side around the precocious talent.

Substitutes

FW Isco, NR -- On for James with less than 20 minutes to play, Isco got involved but the sting had gone out of the game.

FW Mariano, NR -- On for Morata with 12 minutes left, Mariano didn't get a touch.

MF Luka Modric, NR -- On for Kovacic for the final 10 to ensure no late collapse and stretch his legs before the derby.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by ROB TRAIN

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