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Five Champions League takeaways

By Ernesto Hernandez

NAPLES, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 17: Fernando Llorente, Dries Mertens and Eljif Elmas of SSC Napoli celebrate the victory after the UEFA Champions League group E match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Paolo on September 17, 2019 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 17: Fernando Llorente, Dries Mertens and Eljif Elmas of SSC Napoli celebrate the victory after the UEFA Champions League group E match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Paolo on September 17, 2019 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane reacts during the UEFA Champions league Group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, on September 18, 2019. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane reacts during the UEFA Champions league Group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, on September 18, 2019. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images) /

5. Zidane unable to find solutions for Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane’s second stint at Real Madrid is not going the way everyone hoped it would. His Real Madrid side has stumbled out the gate in the league and were humiliated in their opener against PSG.

A PSG side who were without their front three of Edinson Cavani, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe. But the likes of Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi proved to be more than enough against a Real Madrid side who looked completely overrun in midfield. Had it not been for poor finishing, PSG could have easily scored five or six.

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For the most part, Florentino Perez did what Zidane wanted when he left the first time. He brought in new players to freshen up a side that the Frenchman felt had gotten complacent. However, they were unable to move on from Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez who both started.

With Luka Modric injured, he was forced to play the Colombian alongside Casemiro and Toni Kroos and it did not go well. Possession was lost rather quickly and it left the defense exposed on a number of occasions.

Zidane wanted Paul Pogba but was unable to get him. Still, Real Madrid should have had enough to beat a team without three of its best players.

Former player, Guti, came out and, according to Marca, said, “When you go to Paris to play PSG without their three stars and you aren’t able to compete, bad.”

Madrid had two goals disallowed but were the second best team throughout the 90 minutes.The Champions League is supposed to be their bread-and-butter. Luckily for them, there is plenty of time for their fortunes to change.

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