Coming from behind to equalise against Athletic Club, Real Madrid's Julen Lopetegui did not waste any time taking off Luka Modric or Gareth Bale, but he lacked the courage to play his only out and out striker from the bench.
Mariano Diaz spent the full 90 minutes on the sidelines at Estadio San Mames as Los Blancos failed to find a winner.
It was the first real test for Lopetegui's side in LaLiga Santander and Mariano remains without having made his first appearance since returning to the club this summer.
There are some decisions that define a coach, and with the scoreline going against him, Lopetegui replaced a quiet Dani Ceballos with Casemiro at half-time, leaving Isco on the bench.
The playmaker came on after an hour, but it looked a fatal error to leave him out for so long in a game like the one at San Mames.
Unai Simon is also worthy of a mention for Athletic, particularly given that in another scenario he would have been in a hotel with loan club Elche waiting to play a LaLiga 1 2 3 fixture against Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Fourth choice until Kepa Arrizabalaga went to Chelsea, Iago Herrerin picked up an injury and Alex Remiro was exiled after refusing to extend his deal, Simon was a brick wall who prevented Real Madrid from scoring time and time again.
hetcdenrty
0
wow
beautiful
0
courtois and lopetegui must go home
ππππ€£π€£ππππ this comment has me weak
Xclusivechuck
1
Julen shared a greater responsibility in last night loss... He really needs to wake up field the right players in order to get a desired result. why keep Benzema on the pitch for 90th minutes without any positive impact when u had Diaz on bench??
seaniggy
0
no modric and benzema...... impossible
i get where you're coming from but my point was to have more of a younger group to keep up with vin/diaz
Zuuablt
1
remove isco and put modric
kodeAZ
1
Madrid will know what's up when they playing 2 games in a week in different competitions. Then, they will know they just lost their asset while Barca keep theirs
casino57
1
Why did they buy the guy in the first place?? He ain't playing him when the team is in dead need of point... If he's gonna keep benching him then I think we're gonna have a very terrible season..my thoughts though
nyuwenfelix
3
I think Madrid loosing will cm from the coach. casemiro should not be on bench and isco should start in place of modric or Bale
cuheksu
0
julen should start to wake up and learn. time to start mariano/vinicious. starting XI should look more or less like this and sub modric and benzema when needed
[image]
no modric and benzema...... impossible
seaniggy
3
julen should start to wake up and learn. time to start mariano/vinicious. starting XI should look more or less like this and sub modric and benzema when needed
jigga07
2
we started well, we can't end in 2nd place we aiming for the top. so Help us God
aman1508
0
haha no7 for uππ
cuzbeop
0
Lopetegui's is not a good coach,he don't know how to use Madrid players,besides how can he be putting the young new players on the bench,he should try them
drew4u
3
this madrid coach keeps making unnecessary mistakes. Ceballos shouldn't have started before Isco. Moreover i see no reason why Lucas, Vinicius and Mariano are not getting more game time
Hoebdmu
1
courtois and lopetegui must go home
Hoebdmu
1
lopetigui must go home now
clue_l3ss
1
Shouldnβt start with a difficult game...he should first play an easy part to let his confidence boost...pressure might ruin his career at Madrid
FaijuFijas
6
missed someone?? oops... . CR7 love..
Trevorn
0
In all honesty I think that Lopetegui should've subbed on Mariano for Benzema. Benzema was hardly anywhere to be found and wasted the chances that came his way to score. Although I say this I also believe that Lopetegui has great plans for Mariano this season and he left him on the bench because of this.
RobEBEN
1
the coach is very very stupid he should be sacked without wasting time. why is he given chance to Ramos to do whatever he want.
losbcepz
1
What was Mariano gonna do?
haw will we know now?
AnwarJemil
2
Madrid favorite no is from now an no 10 not 7 they try to kill no ,7 ronaldo will be angry
Claire7
3
ππ
adijat
1
this is coach blame, how coach can bench the good player when Real are looking for goal, they have to look about the matter.
JΓ‘mesR11
0
What was Mariano gonna do?
Exactly
Jahir17
0
What was Mariano gonna do?
kincdlorsy
0
l mean this coach won't to spoil Mariano or what i don't understand
Haoakpsuz
1
Marian is probably still warming up β
juniornii22
0
so what? are you the coach?
I understand where you are coming from but sometimes too the coach also knows what he is doing. of he had done what you are saying who will play at the right side of attack?
Asantejoseph
0
We will do better let wait
Asantejoseph
0
Pls let wait on till it over
setcilyz
1
He is still warming up!!!
yes number 7 on bench..????
ORUVAL2
0
It's hight time Mariano and Vicinuis are given time to prove their worth... Mariano should have come in instead of Vasquez...
12UnitedGuy
1
Tue decision is the coaches
Tecentu
0
I don't know if our coach want to turn Madrid to Spanish national team when we have Mariano in bench and he is bringing in Lucas Vazquez who have loose his form before even Zidane left what does these means
and he is from Dominican Republic check well bro
Tecentu
0
I don't know if our coach want to turn Madrid to Spanish national team when we have Mariano in bench and he is bringing in Lucas Vazquez who have loose his form before even Zidane left what does these means
but he is not playing for Spanish national team and he is not Spanish go and and check your google well bro
Abdulfaf
0
I don't know if our coach want to turn Madrid to Spanish national team when we have Mariano in bench and he is bringing in Lucas Vazquez who have loose his form before even Zidane left what does these means
You do know that mariano diaz is Spanish right?
Reuabdelrs
1
He is still warming up!!!
waledark
0
so what? are you the coach?
At times we can submit that it could be a bit ash to criticize the coach, bit some of us are not just fans,we played the game and managed the game as well,,what is the sense in keeping Mariano on the bench?? and bringing in Vasquez when Athleti has surely shot down your band,,for once it was tactically wrong,one would have thought Mariano will come in for bale,and the formation switch to four four two,with benzema pairing him..really think he needs to start serious game reading,hence he may be playing well and losing games...
meisser
0
Raul Garcia, less play football, do everything, and lopetegui do not eat the turron
Trinityby
0
Benzema and Lucas, please, it's fine
RealMadrid92
0
I hate seeing this man on the bench
π
Tecentu
1
I don't know if our coach want to turn Madrid to Spanish national team when we have Mariano in bench and he is bringing in Lucas Vazquez who have loose his form before even Zidane left what does these means
pygmy
0
To be honest, in my humble opinion is played much better than with Zidane, is better combined, pressed and retreats better, but the misfortune that will have Julen is that, called Julen !!!, has a template with very little goal Despite what was seen in the first 3 days, blinded by the weakness of the rivals, we will miss muuuucho gol.A serious rival, Atleti, a defeat, a half decent, Athletic, a draw
minicar
0
How difficult was it to switch to benzepak for Mariano? with mariano, the asadio player ends up in the atletic squad and not as benzepak that what happens to him being alone in the area is giving him a pass to lucas, unfortunate
BabaNla_14
3
seems loputegi is not know exactly what he is doing, did called this guy, to be a bench wormer...... Next Real Madrid Galaticos
typewrit
0
If we think to win something thanks to the goals of the Benzemalo, we go of cvlo!, That or push pushes comes.
KombatIsaac
0
I don't understand why the coach is benching mariano as a new signing player of the season
RealMadrid92
1
this is the point. mariano should give chance over Lucas
akazoori
0
INCREDIBLE gives me lopetegui still going to hold more to the kitten than Zidane himself, see to believe.