Real Madrid seem to be in crisis every other week.
Whether it’s messing up a game in La Liga or struggling in the Champions League, there seems to be constant chatter over the future of manager Zinedine Zidane.
However, any supposed tension was not evident at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday as Los Blancos finally put in a convincing display in Europe’s elite club competition, smashing Turkish outfit Galatasaray 6-0.
It took just four minutes for the hosts to take the lead, with 18-year-old Rodrygo Goes controlling well in the box before firing into the bottom corner…
He grabbed another just three minutes later, flicking in Marcelo’s cross, and fans were quick to flock to Twitter in praise of the Brazilian wonderkid…
I love how simple Rodrygo plays and his composure is just incredible
— Bernard Gamamou (@bernifficial10) November 6, 2019
Rodrygo Goes is surpassing Vinicius Jnr. now. Such young brilliant chap
— Opoku-Amoako Kingsley (@opokuamok) November 6, 2019
However, while there was plenty of love for Real’s up and coming star, there wasn’t as much for Sergio Ramos.
The centre back opted to take a penalty in the 14th minute after Karim Benzema was brought down, despite Rodrygo being on a hat trick. Sure, it seems like the normal call for the regular penalty taker to step up with the game still alive at 2-0, but Rodrygo could have registered the fastest ever Champions League treble had he taken and converted the spot kick.
Just a note, that claim is not Opta confirmed as far as I’m aware. As you were.
Naturally, Ramos scored the penalty, dinking the ball down the middle before busting out a unique celebration.
Sure, drink it in Sergio, but just know that a few of your fans are not too pleased right now.
If Ramos gave the penalty to Rodrygo and the Brazilian converted it, he would have scored the fastest hat-trick in #UCL history.
via @2010MisterChip
— SPORT English (@Sport_EN) November 6, 2019
I’m pretty sure Rodrygo would have scored. Selfish for Ramos to even Panenka it.
— Valverde Is Stupid (@StrizzleSports) November 6, 2019
now that i think of it, why didn’t ramos let rodrygo take the pen?
that was rubbish tbh
— Wallflower (@TheAaronAlasa) November 6, 2019
Rodrygo scores two goals in the first 7 minutes for Real Madrid v Galatasaray.
In the 14th minute, Real get a penalty. A chance for Rodrygo to complete a remarkable hat-trick.
Sergio Ramos scores it instead.
What an utterly magnificent bastard he is. pic.twitter.com/w524mTAIE5
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) November 6, 2019
Sergio Ramos denying 18-year-old Rodrygo the chance to score the quickest Champions League hat-trick of all time from the penalty spot, only to panenka it down the middle himself is just pure unadulterated Sergio Ramos. Animal.
— Lee Stobbs (@LeeStobbs06) November 6, 2019
Rodrygo then played a role in Madrid’s fourth goal of the evening, latching on to a slack pass from Yuto Nagatomo to square for Benzema, who had the easy task of tapping in from close range.
Benzema helped himself to another easy goal in the 81st minute, prodding in from Dani Carvajal’s cross, before Rodrygo eventually managed to compete a memorable hat trick, despite Ramos’ remarkable s**thousery earlier in the evening.
The former Santos forward latched on to Benzema’s through ball to poke his effort beyond Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to round off an exceptional night’s work for Real.
Paris Saint-Germain still top Group A by five points, having won all four games, scoring ten goals and conceding none, but Real are now five points clear of Club Brugge in second and will certainly be confident of securing safe passage through to the knockout stages of the competition.
All in all, a very satisfying night for Zidane and his troops.
Let’