Real Madrid vs. FC Copenhagen: 6 Things We Learned
Real Madrid brought their great momentum in La Liga to the UEFA Champions League and secured a 4-0 victory against Copenhagen.
The Spanish club could not take advantage of their clear superiority early on, but the scenario changed dramatically in the second half.
Copenhagen did their best to hold off the constant attack from Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Luca Modric.
Let’s see what we learned from this match.
Angel Di Maria Is Fundamental to the Attack
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After a shaky first half, Angel di Maria changed his performance in the last 45 minutes.
He assisted Cristiano Ronaldo on the club's second goal and then went on to score Real Madrid's third and fourth goals.
Di Maria’s fine touch and speed put Copenhagen in distress constantly. Frankly, he should have scored at least three times.
The Argentina international took advantage of playing through the right flank, which gave him freedom and space to cut into the center of the pitch.
Copenhagen Need to Step Up
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Copenhagen held the fort for 45 minutes, but it crumbled quickly in the second half, as Real Madrid showed their usual depth and creativity.
The Lions did not pose a threat for Los Merengues and it was only in injury time when they had two clear scoring opportunities—one by Christian Bolaños and the other by Fanendo Adi.
This is the worst performance from the Danish club in their three Champions League appearances.
They are not doing well in the Danish Superliga either. After securing the league title last season, they are currently in the relegation zone with a 2-4-4 record.
Luckily for them, they can still qualify for the Champions League knockout stage. If they beat Galatasaray and Los Blancos defeat or draw with Juventus, the Lions will get to the round of 16 for the second time in history.
Iker Casillas Was Outstanding in Key Moments
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Iker Casillas had few appearances in the game, but it was in the last couple of minutes where he really shined.
Casillas rejected three consecutive shots, which resulted in praise from the fans.
Despite recently recovering from a bruised rib and having played only 14 minutes in the current season, the Spaniard showed that he is still at his best.
Luka Modric Is a Thriving Force
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The Croatian brought his A-game and helped Real Madrid with depth and creativity.
With crosses and ball control, Modric proved to be a very valuable asset for the team. He ran all over the pitch in a display of superb physical conditioning.
Little by little, Modric is showing why he deserves to be a starter.
Marcelo Is Back on Track
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The Brazilian left-back had not appeared with Real Madrid since early September due to a torn muscle.
Marcelo managed to recover for the game against Copenhagen and Carlo Ancelotti decided to put him in from the start.
He did not disappoint. Marcelo assisted CR7 in the first goal. His runs through the left side were key to putting pressure on the opposition and creating goalscoring opportunities.
There Is No Stopping Cristiano Ronaldo
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The Portuguese scored his fifth goal in two Champions League games and 11th of the 2013-2014 season.
This was his 100th match in European competitions and he celebrated in style. With two headers, Cristiano Ronaldo gave Real Madrid a 2-0 advantage.
He had three more attempts, but they were either rejected or went wide of Johan Wiland's goal.
We also saw him send crosses from the left flank to give Karim Benzema and Di Maria scoring opportunities.
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