Open Thread: March 15, 2021

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, Ezek Ix or NeRObutBlanco.

Real Madrid’s women win the Madrid Derby!

¡Hala Madrid!

Read Om Arvind’s detailed Immediate Reaction.

Getting ready for Atalanta

The Royal Whites face Atalanta at the Alfredo Di Stéfano on Tuesday (16:00 EST / 21:00 CET) for the second leg of the round of 16 knockout stage. Real Madrid have a 1-0 lead from Ferland Mendy’s right-footed golazo from outside the box.

After a straining 2-1 defeat of Elche on Saturday, Los Blancos returned to Real Madrid City for training on Sunday.

Zidane’s post match press conference

The Real Madrid boss discussed the team’s consistent struggling against teams that load the area around the 18 yard box with bodies.

Elche defend well and are physically very strong. It was difficult for us. The teams that sit back make it very difficult. That’s not going to change. We have to find ways of getting through against a team that defends deep. In the end, we found the gap with patience and tempo.

In the first ten minutes of the first half we had two or three chances and also at the start of the second half. We increased the intensity and played patiently which allowed us to create openings. It’s tough when you play against two banks of defenders. But you can’t lose faith. You have to look for a gap, but not go crazy at the same time when teams defend so deep.

A new La Liga Diaries is out

Check out a behind-the-scenes view of Rodrygo and the crew doing their prep work and winning the Elche match.

Bayern reportedly eyeing Fede Valverde (HT: NeRO)

How to rate Bayern’s chances at landing that one?

Real Madrid are not exactly experiencing a wealth of riches in midfield depth.

Romano reports on CR7 transfer rumors (HT: Shuvo091)