Villarreal and a nice approach from Unai Emery, were the first to expose Real Madrid’s tactical shortcomings, with evidence from Carlo Ancelotti like betting on Fede Valverde at right-back, Nacho Fernández at left or a midfielder with a single defensive specialist, which reduces the efficiency and score level of the white team.
“I don’t think the approach was wrong, it was correct,” defended Ancelotti after the second draw at the start of the season which improved the numbers of the first two leagues against Real Madrid. He didn’t win any. In neither did he sign 17 out of a possible 21 points. In what has been the best start to date, the 2013-14 season conceded a defeat on Matchday 7 in a Madrid derby against Atlético de Madrid.