The tough defeat of Real Madrid tonight against the Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk (2-3) on the first matchday of the Champions League group stage has featured prominently in the international sports press. A first part without intensity -reflected, mainly, in the centrals Varane and Militao– has led Zidane's team to end the first half with a resounding 0-3 against. The foreign media have titled today's Madrid matchday as follows:
L’Equipe: “Real Madrid lose at home to Shakhtar Donetsk with a catastrophic Varane”
The French half points to Raphael Varane for today's performance and recalls the disastrous game he played against Manchester City last edition of the tournament, in the match that saw the elimination of the Spanish team in the second round against Guardiola's team.
O Bola: “Militao portrays the Madrid scandal against Shakhtar”
For its part, the Portuguese sports newspaper has put the eye of its criticism on Varane's teammate behind this day: Éder Militao. The passivity shown by the Rio de Janeiro defender in several plays of the first half has been highlighted by the Portuguese media.
La Gazzetta dello sport: “Real Madrid's shocking debut: they lose 3-2 at home to Shakhtar!”
The lack of concentration of the Zidane team in the first part has been criticized by the oldest sports newspaper in Europe in this area.
Olé: “Real Madrid saves the humiliation, but not the defeat”
In Argentina they value the drive of Madrid in the second half, especially with the entry into the game of Vinícius. Of course, the whites do not get rid of the trial due to the lack of ideas taking the ball played from behind.
ESPN: “Shakhtar punishes the passivity of Madrid”
Also on the other side of the ocean, the lack of intensity of Zidane's pupils tonight stands out. A soft defense and the lack of ideas in the creation of the first half are the keys for the Latin American environment.