4 Issues Real Madrid Need to Work on During the November International Break
Real Madrid have been rampant.
Their most recent win against Rayo Vallecano was their 13th in a row in all competitions.
After the international break, they will look to close in on the club record, which stands at 15.
Despite their recent form, though, there are still some things which Carlo Ancelotti will want to improve.
The following slides look at what they might be, as well as which issues may need solving in the near future.
1. Stabilising midfield
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"When I played for Barca and Atletico [Madrid] I had a bodyguard behind me," Bernd Schuster said in a recent interview with Marca journalist Enrique Ortego.
"I liked moving up the pitch a bit... I'd put a bodyguard behind [Toni] Kroos, too."
One of the facets of Real Madrid's recent run of 13 straight wins has been the developing partnership between Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
However, some people are still speculating, as with Schuster above, whether they lack a defensive edge.
Schuster, a one-time Madrid manager, says that Kroos needs a bodyguard behind him, and it's unlikely he means the diminutive Modric.
"When [Kroos] goes, Modric stays," Carlo Ancelotti said after the Rayo Vallecano win, per AS.
"It’s a good pairing and they play well."
The Italian is absolutely right, and there have been few signs of weaknesses in recent weeks, but Madrid could still do with having something in mind should a bodyguard become necessary.
2. Defending
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James Rodriguez's mistake let Rayo Vallecano back into the game, and Leo Baptistao would have made things 2-2 were it not for the offside flag.
Less than a minute later, Karim Benzema made it 3-1 instead, and that was that.
According to WhoScored.com, Rayo had 15 shots and six on target overall. Real Madrid created just one more attempt on goal, although they had many more on target.
In the La Liga game prior to that, Granada had 11 shots and hit the target five times.
Somehow, they didn't score, but they are the lowest scoring side in the league.
In the Clasico, Barcelona racked up 15 shots. Madrid, on the other hand, totalled 18. Five of the Catalan club's attempts were on target, while Real were on target with six, but things may have been different if Lionel Messi had made it 2-0 from Luis Suarez's cross.
When you're scoring so many goals at one end, it's a natural circumstance that you may leave yourselves slightly exposed at the other.
However, individual mistakes and poor defending from set pieces can be eradicated.
3. Asier Illarramendi
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A £26.4 million signing from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2013, per Transfermarkt, Asier Illarramendi remains in danger of slipping into the background at Real Madrid.
He's made 12 appearances in all competitions this season, although he's only actually played 407 minutes.
Tuttosport, as reported on Sports Mole, have suggested the 24-year-old Spanish midfielder is wanted on loan by AC Milan in January.
There have been brief glimpses of Illarramendi's qualities this season, but his route to the first team looks firmly blocked off by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric at the moment.
In the future, he could be the "bodyguard" Bernd Schuster was talking about.
For now, he's a problem that Ancelotti needs to solve.
4. Jese Rodriguez
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Not so much an issue, but something that needs to be done and can be given special attention during the international break.
Jese Rodriguez has returned to training with Real Madrid and is closing in on a first-team return.
Cruelly struck down by injury in last season's Champions League win over Schalke 04, the 21-year-old has been out of action for more than six months.
Now back, and with 14 internationals away with their countries, Ancelotti can dedicate some time toward checking in on the player's progress.
The Italian is already having to leave players out—with Isco the victim against Rayo—and Jese's eventual return will add to his positive conundrum.
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