Real Madrid under pressure as its football falls short

The assessment of Real Madrid is stark: plenty of urgency, but too little football. At the eighth round of the league, the club are six points behind Barcelona, a gap described as the source of its nervousness. Every match has consequently taken on the feel of a final for Mourinho’s side, which cannot afford to let Barça extend the distance further. The meeting with Villarreal illustrated that pressure, described as a defining feature of this Real Madrid team.

On the pitch, Arda Güler is portrayed as the only player bringing light to a side still lacking a great deal in its play. Real Madrid produce bursts of activity but have yet to put together a complete performance; watching them do so is likened to winning the lottery.

The Villarreal match also brought a specific point on video refereeing: VAR made the right decision, despite the hostility it attracts among Madrid supporters. But that episode does not shift attention from the problem being highlighted: the urgency in the table is matched by football considered too limited for Real Madrid to control its matches.