Without using Ronaldo, Bale or Benzema, Real still won big against Leganes

Without Ronaldo, Bale or Benzema, Real still played successfully and won 4-2 on Leganes' field.

Goals: Gabriel 32', Neves 34' - James 15', Morata 18', 23', 48'

Playing away from the team that was ranked fourth from bottom, coach Zinedine Zidane decided to field a team that consisted mostly of reserve players. This was a risky decision but the right one as Real showed no signs of a decline in form. The La Liga leaders even scored four goals.goals against Leganes, including three goals in the first 23 minutes.

Among the substitutes who were given a starting role, striker Alvaro Morata was the standout performer. The star who moved from Juventus last summer showed off his positioning in the penalty area and his ability to strike at the right time to score three goals for Real.

Morata's scoring style also shows the class of a top striker. When raising the score to 2-0 in the 18th minute, "number 21" showed composure and precision with a header from a tight angle that sent the ball soaring over the goalkeeper. Not long after, Morata once again showed his coolness when firing a shot into the top corner to increase the score to 3-0.

Morata (in black) played excellently when he started instead of Benzema in attack. Photo: Reuters

Besides Morata, other players who usually polish the bench for Real also had a successful game. Typically, Marco Asensio and James Rodriguez, the pair coordinated leading to the opening goal in the 15th minute. Asensio once again showed his natural speed when breaking through the Leganes defense and setting up James.

Compared to the main players, Real's reserve team may lack experience. This was a weakness that Leganes exploited in the middle of the first half. After leading by three goals, Real played complacently and quickly reduced the score to 2-3. From close-range shots from Gabriel and Neves, the home team rekindled some hope.

Leganes (blue shirt) almost made a surprise against Real.

If it hadn’t been for another Morata goal early in the second half, Real could have struggled. After a header deflected off Mantovani and into the Leganes net, the leaders regained their two-goal lead and their confidence. Meanwhile, despite having a fair amount of possession, Leganes couldn’t find the same scoring touch as they had midway through the first half.

With the win in round 30, Real regained the lead just a few hours after being taken over by Barca. Real's team is still two points ahead of Barca (71-69), and also has a make-up match against Celta Vigo.

The win over Leganes is also a good preparation both mentally and physically for the Madrid derby this weekend. After the match with Atletico, Real will travel to Germany to play the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern.

Real Madrid kept many key players on the bench when meeting Leganes, to prepare for the upcoming big matches.

According to VNE