Open Thread: January 22, 2021.

Hola Madridistas!

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, YoSnail or Oscnar.

Thursday Training Session

Zinedine Zidane brought in ten players from the youth team (via RealMadrid.com) as practice resumed yesterday. They have the trip to Alavés’ Mendizorroza coming up for the game on Saturday (9pm CET, 3pm EST). Martin Ødegaard and Sergio Ramos trained indoors and apart from the team. Dani Carvajal rejoined the team for part of their outdoor work. Rodrygo Goes continued his rehabilitation work at the facility.

Here some familiar and unfamiliar faces work on their various drills:

Liverpool v. Burnley: first home loss in over four years.

Dani Ceballos sends a warning.

“It would be having a chat with the coach and coaching staff that are there at the time and knowing I’ll get the same opportunities as the rest of the players. From there it’s about earning it on the pitch,” Ceballos said in an interview with EFE.”I don’t know Martin [Odegaard]’s thoughts but I know mine and I think when you are young and have aims, you need to be playing regularly. And when you don’t, it’s like something is missing.”

Ceballos also discussed what in his view is going on with Gareth Bale at Tottenham:

“It’s not easy... it’s a very physical league. When he was here seven years ago, it was very different,” said Ceballos.”It’s hard to adapt quickly and I think that’s what’s going on with Gareth.”

AS: Real Madrid: six players under microscope after ‘Alcoyanazo’

Manu de Juan of AS had analysis of some performances that were under the spotlight on Saturday:

Isco

The other player spotted chuckling away before extra time, Isco was in the thick of the action in the opening stages of the match but quickly faded away. A couple of months ago, the midfielder complained that Zidane rarely starts him, takes him off early if he does and brings him on late if he’s a substitute… but he failed to stake his claim for more game time on an evening that was a chance to do so. Although he worked hard, winning the ball back 12 times, his passing was well off: he completed just 78 out of 96, and lost possession 29 times. He brought little penetration or creativity to the side.

LaLiga result: Atletico Madrid 2 - Eibar 1

Eibar were looking set to draw with Los Colchoneros until the 88th minute when a controversial penalty was called in favor of Luis Suarez at the top of the box. The defender, Anaitz Arbilla, took a clumsy, strange swing at the ball and Suarez immediately flung himself to the ground and made the most of it: