adminMADRID. – Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez admitted his side were wasteful in front of goal as his first game in charge of the Spanish soccer giants ended in a 0-0 draw away to promoted Sporting Gijon on Sunday night.
The visitors had 27 shots on goal at El Molinon without finding the net and also failed to score in four of their eight pre-season friendlies since Benitez took over.
“We lacked precision in the final pass and accuracy in the shots on goal,” said the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager.
“In general, we lost the ball too much in the first-half and gave them a lot of opportunities to counter-attack. In the second-half we had more control, more possession, more danger but without that final pass to leave you with a clear chance at goal.
“In the first half we lacked things and in the second we had much more that we needed for this type of game. We will continue to tweak and improve things like the physical condition, the precision and the coordination between the players and in that sense I remain optimistic.”
Benitez started with Gareth Bale in a more central position to that which he has played wide on the right for the past two seasons.
However, even a change of position failed to bring the best out the Welshman as he failed to make his mark and ended up back on the wing as Benitez changed his formation in the search for a winning goal.
“We finished 4-3-3 to have the players who could arrive to score goals closer to the area, to have more control in midfield and width with the full-backs,” he added.
“You could see that at the end we just lacked the final pass or that our shots were more precise.”
Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was also critical of his side’s first-half display which already leaves them playing catch up to Barcelona who won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao.
“It’s clear that the first half wasn’t good at all,” said the Spanish international.
“In the second-half the team controlled possession a lot more, we took the initiative and in the few chances we had we didn’t take them.
“We have to analyse it and continue improving. We would have liked to start with three points.
“It is never good not to win. Sporting pressed high, especially in the first half. In the second we had more control and we couldn’t kill the game with the chances.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was uncharacteristically wayward in front of goal as he somehow failed to direct James Rodriguez’s inch-perfect cross on target.
The World Player of the Year missed an even better chance 15 minutes from time from another fine cross by Danilo.
Sporting ‘keeper Ivan Cuellar salvaged a point for his side with a stunning save to turn Ronaldo’s fiercely struck effort behind.
In Bilbao, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi’s troubles from the penalty spot continued as he saw a first-half spot-kick saved by Gorka Iraizoz.
However, his strike partner ensured that miss didn’t prove costly as Suarez volleyed home early in the second-half to hand the champions all three points.
“These matches are vital if you aspire to win the league,” said Suarez
“We won the game and that is the important thing. We had to wait for the moment to create chances.”
Luis Enrique’s men were returning to the ground where they were thrashed 4-0 in the first leg of the Super Cup just nine days ago.
They were also without the suspended Gerard Pique, whilst Neymar wasn’t fit to take part after just returning to training following a bout of the mumps.
The game burst into life when referee Carlos del Cerro Grande controversially pointed to the spot when Suarez went down under a challenge from Gorka Elustondo.
However, Messi failed to open the scoring from the resulting spot-kick as Iraizoz dived to his right to make a brilliant save.
The Argentine has now missed five penalties for club and country in the past year and failed to find the net in 14 of the 63 penalties he has taken for Barca.
Iraizoz produced an even better stop moments later to prevent Suarez sweeping home Sergi Roberto’s cross to ensure Athletic went in level at the break.
The Uruguayan wasn’t to be denied just eight minutes into the second-half, though, as he connected sweetly on his left-foot with Jordi Alba’s cross.
However, the visitors suffered another injury blow when Sergio Busquets was stretchered off with an ankle problem and were left hanging on with a makeshift back four.
Ibai Gomez had the Basques’ best chance to equalise 10 minutes from time, but he blasted over when the ball fell invitingly inside the Barca box.- AFP.
Online Reporter