Real Madrid 5-0 Deportivo La Coruna: Five talking points
Los Blancos handed Zidane a perfect start.Real Madrid rode high on a Gareth Bale hat-trick as the Zinedine Zidane era started with a thumping 5-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu, with Karim Benzema scoring a brace.All eyes, though, were on the dugout as French legend and former Galactico Zizou was taking charge of the side for the first time since Rafa Benitez got the axe. The illustrious Frenchman was brought aboard from Real’s B team, despite having minimal coaching experience.Yet, it was an encouraging start to his reign as the hosts pummeled the Brancoazuis for five, and Bale netted his second treble of the campaign while Benzema continued his fine goal-run. Here are some of the major things to talk about from the first game of the Zidane era.
#1 First test, flying colours
France legend Zinedine Zidane oversaw the proceedings from the sidelines for the first time as a head coach and cannot be more pleased. The 41-year old’s first game in-charge as the Blancos manager was brought under scrutiny given his limited experience in the dugout, but suffice to say, he passed his first test with flying colours.
Zidane made a few notable changes to the line-up that featured in the 2-2 draw at Valencia last weekend. Dani Carvajal was reinstated his position at the right-back and dropping the inconsistent Danilo to the bench. Isco started in the midfield again after sitting out last weekend, and James Rodriguez, who was also benched in the Valencia encounter, was brought late on. Upfront, the stellar ‘BBC’ trio led the line where Bale and Benzema got among the goals as the home side coasted to a routine victory over the Galician minnows.
A positive start for Zidane by all accounts.