Real Madrid's Incessant Desire to Score so Heavily Is Both Unique and Refreshing
It wouldn't be unfair to say that Le Grand Stade de Marrakech is far from being one of football's revered cathedrals. Though the ground in the Moroccan city can house as many fans as, say Anfield, it's not one that conjures images of grandeur or evokes memories of glittering moments in history.
In fact, the presence of a running track around the pitch and the large distance between player and fan (puzzling features for a new stadium) prevent the venue from achieving an environment of any note at all.
Often, such surroundings dampen the spectacle; the intensity of the contest mimics that of the subdued atmosphere. It's unavoidable at times. It just happens that way.
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But on Tuesday it didn't. Not at all.
Le Grand Stade de Marrakech got its money's worth. Real Madrid came to play.
Honestly, you could have excused Los Blancos if they didn't. For this was a semi-final of the hardly coveted Club World Cup against a vastly inferior Cruz Azul outfit, contested on a different continent, in an uninspiring venue and in the middle of a busy schedule.
For a collection of players carrying among them World Cup titles, European championships and Champions League crowns, it wasn't a night to savour.
Impressively, though, there appeared to be a recognition from those in white that they have a responsibility while in northwest Africa. They're the competition's draw cards. They're there to entertain. To dazzle.
Putting on a show was an implied duty.
On Tuesday, Real Madrid showed they get it.
It was evident from the opening minutes—there was a desire to enthral those in attendance. And it never once ceased.
At the back, Marcelo had his bag—or, more accurately, his incredibly large sack—of tricks out, while Daniel Carvajal relentlessly charged forward. Standing between them, Sergio Ramos scored, and even Pepe went searching up field. Behind them all, Iker Casillas did his part and saved a penalty.
In the middle, Toni Kroos was busy showing off his sumptuous passing range, leaving Isco to delight the crowd with a stunning goal.
And up front, the vaunted trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema put on a characteristic exhibition of attacking brilliance that was lined with a pleasing dash of audacity.
Not once did Real stop creating, stop running or stop demanding more. Even at 3-0, and then at 4-0, they surged forward unrelentingly, understanding their silent obligation to captivate an audience rarely afforded the chance to marvel at their skill in person—just like they had when opening their training sessions up to the public in Rabat.
Frankly, that incessant desire to score and awe in equal measure is unique. It's refreshing. And this incarnation of Real Madrid do it all the time.
Just ask Deportivo de La Coruna. Or Basel. Or Elche. Hell, you can ask Athletic Bilbao, Levante, Liverpool, Barcelona, Cornella, Granada, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, Ludogorets, Almeria, and most recently, Cruz Azul. The answer will be the same: Those guys in white never stop.
What's most striking about that aspect of Los Blancos' mentality is how it contrasts to nearly every other side around.
Across Europe, how often do you see strikers removed once a lead has been established? How often do you see defensive midfielders brought on to protect an advantage? How often do you hear prominent figures praising the "tactical ability" and "awareness" of managers and teams who look to "shore up" games and seal results with a clinical second-half approach?
That's not to say, of course, such a method is misguided. It's not. For most, it's what they must do. Scarcely another club on the continent can continue to batter their opponents into submission the way Real Madrid do.
But that's why it's refreshing: Real prolong the entertainment like no other. Their craving to score never appears to be satisfied. Ronaldo and Co. never let up.
On their current winning streak, even if they aren't defying belief, they're certainly defying conventional wisdom.
Interestingly, it was one of the most attacking managers around who reinforced such a view. Though not directly speaking of Real Madrid, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was adamant that goalscoring records such as the one belonging to Los Blancos are almost unattainable in modern football.
"I don't think teams attack much better, but they defend much better than 10 years ago," Wenger said in November, per The Telegraph.
"In the modern game the physical levels have gone up—everyone is quicker—so you cannot guarantee that you will score three or four goals in every game."
A quick glance across to the Spanish capital (or down to Marrakech) reveals you can. It's just very unique. And it's wondrous to watch.
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