A Question Posed After An Appropriate Sample Period: Is Real Madrid Too Reliant Upon Cristiano Ronaldo?

By: chris | October 5th, 2009

The Real Madrid express train steamed into Andalusia last night with nary a blemish on their glittering, gold dripping record. Five games, five wins, two goals conceded and a whole lot of peaking over their shoulder from current champions Barcelona.

This morning they trudge on back to Madrid having doubled their goals conceded and added a strike into the ol’ “L” column, courtesy of Sevilla. And while Real Madrid losing is always news, regardless of their perceived quality, this one had a dash of the inevitable about it, as Sir Cristiano Ronaldo was in the stands, unable to don his cape and save the day.

The question is already making the rounds: is Cristiano too vital a cog to the Real machine? The stats are exceptional – 5 in a domestic 5 and 9 in 7 in total. And were we to apply that ratio, merely the domestic one, to this Sevilla game, Real pack a point in their luggage.

Are these stats, eye-catching as they may be, the oil which keeps Real running? Is this what we’ve learned from

Or is one game a ridiculous sample, an altogether convenient alternative to a superior Sevilla brushing up against an inferior Real Madrid on the day? And have we merely learned that wizardry, not Cristiano Ronaldo, is the lifeblood of the La Liga title race?

Yes to wizardry, no to one game samples.

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Category: Spain La Liga, World Football

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Diane

Sevilla were exquisite, relentless, tough, fast and played with exceptional skill at speed. Navas' goal was brilliant, no matter the RM defense's failings, and Casillas was called on to make superhuman (as expected) saves on a few others shots that were almost as amazing. Give credit where it is due, Sevilla just kept coming and couldn't be stopped. Great game. (And the home supporters weren't too bad themselves).
Mike de Vries

Didn't everyone hear? Liverpool, Real Madrid AND Manchester United are all out of their respective title races...aren't they?

http://goodsportblog.wordpress...
Rory

I'd just like to say how beautiful that video is. Not having any commentators made the football the main focus.
Mike Diamente

I don't think this loss means Madrid are too reliant on Ronaldo...

Madrid have been shaky at the back all season long, and Sevilla is a quality team...
Andrew

Honestly i don't think so.

Sevilla are a good team. they had 24 shots with 10 on target. Casillas may be the best goal keeper in the world, but if your team gives up that many shots, you shouldnt expect to win even with Ronaldo,

the better question is, are madrid ridiculously vulnerable on the wing? yes
does having ronaldo play on one side make teams play more defensively on that wing than attacking? yes
Andres

Correction "none of those TEAMS play to their full potential when those players I've listed are missing in action "
Andres

I knew that people will start asking this question as soon as we lost yesterday , C.ronaldo is our best player so of course he will be missed in clashes as the yesterday one but one player doesn't make the team , had benzema not been as invisible as he was . Kaka not being marked out , guti not being inconsistant and marcelo being a bum we would have done just fine
Having said that ronaldo is a very important part of our team , like francesco totti is for roma , rooney for united , messi for barca etc... none of those play to their full potential when those players I've listed are not playing