5 Issues Real Madrid Need to Work on During the International Break

Real Madrid will have been disappointed to see the international break swing around this time.

After six straight wins and 27 goals scored, Carlo Ancelotti would have been more than happy to see the games continue to come thick and fast ahead of this month's Clasico.

However, if there is one plus to be drawn from it, it does give the Italian some thinking time.

There is always work to be done, as proved by Madrid themselves through their transfer activity this summer after claiming La Decima, and Ancelotti will be aware that there are still areas which can be improved at the Bernabeu.

The following slides look at five issues he may have been studying and working on during the international break. 

Getting the Best out of Bale

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Gareth Bale is one of two Real Madrid players to start all 12 competitive matches for the club this season—the other being Sergio Ramos.

WhoScored.com's statistics reveal he has scored five goals and assisted four more during those appearances, with his best performance of the season arguably coming in Madrid's 5-0 win against Athletic Club last time out.

While he hasn't been particularly poor, he has been firmly left in Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow.

It's admittedly a difficult location for any player to leave, but Bale, at a cost of £80 million, is certainly capable of making a name for himself.

Important goals in the Champions League and Copa del Rey finals marked his first season in Spain. He needs to find those levels again.

Indications are they aren't far away.

Writing in Marca, Ruben Jimenez says Carlo Ancelotti is aware he still has some work to do with the Welshman. The international break provides the perfect time for him to work out what needs to be done. 

Iker or Keylor

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Iker Casillas' clanger in Spain's defeat to Slovakia on Thursday night has once again placed the Real Madrid goalkeeper's form firmly in the spotlight.

Luis Nieto's match report in AS went as far as to call the Madrid legend "unreliable":

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Another goal to spark public debate and one that left no trace of the fine save he made just minutes before to deny Mak. The Spain skipper now seems embroiled in the guardian angel, fallen angel role. Or unreliable, as they say.

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Can Carlo Ancelotti afford to have his stopper making mistakes with the Clasico against Barcelona just weeks away?

Every pre-match press conference seems to be dominated by the Madrid manager batting questions away about his two goalkeepers—the other being Keylor Navas—and Casillas has done his boss no favours here.

With his international players away, Ancelotti may be mulling over the idea of bringing the Costa Rican into the side. 

Defending Set Pieces

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During Real Madrid's six-game winning streak, they have managed to keep just two clean sheets.

Both of those came in their last three matches. Therefore, there are signs that Carlo Ancelotti's side are brushing up at the back.

You can never do too much work on the basics, though.

A recent article on Marca pointed out Los Blancos' deficiencies from set pieces after they were undone by a corner routine against Razgrad Ludogorets in the Champions League.

Perhaps it's just an issue of coasting—Madrid have often been leading by two or three goals when these weaknesses are revealed—but there will be games in the future when a loss in concentration cannot be afforded.

Cristiano Ronaldo and company can be expected to do their work at the other end. It would be good if they could count on their defenders to do the same.

Not that they've been too bad to date. 

James Rodriguez

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It's at last becoming clear where James Rodriguez's role for Real Madrid is going to be based.

When the Colombian signed on the back of his fantastic performances at the World Cup in Brazil, there was speculation and debate about where he would fit into a side already housing Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Best further forward, it was suggested one of those three may have to be dropped.

However, James has regularly featured further back in a midfield three with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, and the former Porto and Monaco player seems happy with that.

"I play a bit further back, but that's ok," he said, per Marca. "It's what [Carlo Ancelotti] wants and I'm doing everything I can to carry on playing."

The adaption process is well and truly under way in this sense, but there is still work to be done in this department to make sure Madrid get their money's worth. 

How to Include Varane

Czarek Sokolowski/Associated Press

Considering he's still just 21, Raphael Varane has been dealt a fairly cruel hand in terms of injuries so far.

Fortunately, though, it seems the French international is at last nearing his best again.

He's played 330 minutes in La Liga this season and 114 in the Champions League, as calculated by WhoScored.com. Teammate Karim Benzema is excited about what lies in store for the talented defender, per Marca:

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He's already one of the best. He was outstanding at the World Cup, he's got bags of talent, he plays for the best club in the world and his fitness is getting back to where it needs to be. He showcased his talent prior to his injury and he's getting back to top form now.

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If he can stay fit, it leaves Carlo Ancelotti with a nice puzzle to solve.

How does he continue to aid Varane's progression as a footballer while also keeping Pepe and Sergio Ramos happy?

Rotation may be the short-term answer, but when the big games roll around, the Italian coach may find the question slightly more difficult to respond to.

It's unlikely to be keeping Ancelotti up through the current international break, but it is something he'll eventually need to work on.