Real Madrid have picked up just one point from a possible six in the Champions League, which means that qualifying for the last-16 stage of the competition has been made more complicated.
There are reasons to think that Los Blancos' chances of reaching the knockout stages are in serious danger, with the 13-time Champions League winners currently bottom of their group, but there are also reasons to think that Real Madrid will make it to the last 16.
Reasons to believe:
The return of Hazard
Eden Hazard came on in the second half against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday and put in a decent performance. It is evident that Real Madrid need a player of his quality ahead of what is coming up in the Champions League, where every game will be viewed as a final.
The Belgian is not yet up to match speed, but he showed glimpses of what he can do in his cameo appearance. Karim Benzema is the player who needs him the most. Together, they can put an end to Real Madrid's troubles in attack.
Asensio is fully healthy
Marco Asensio was one of Real Madrid's best performers in Germany. The Asensio from before his knee injury was seen; the player who had no fear, would drive at opponents and create danger, again with a spark.
This is great news for Zinedine Zidane and, although he didn't find the back of the net, the Spaniard is a resolute player who will do his utmost to make sure he is adding goals and assists in order to aid Los Blancos' attack.
A point that keeps them alive
It may seem crazy, but given the way the game was set up, the comeback against Gladbach in the closing stages could represent the turning point for Real Madrid. The ability to salvage something in the dying embers of the game is in the club's DNA.
What this point also means is that the Germans now go onto two, rather than four, while Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk are both on four themselves. A defeat would have left Zidane's players on the brink of elimination.
Love for the Champions League
Real Madrid always give their best in the Champions League: it is their competition and it is not very credible that they don't make it past the group stage. The point in Germany means that they are still alive.
Zidane is an expert in this competition
It's rare to see Zidane come up short in the Champions League. Last season is the first time that he has failed to win the competition, with Manchester City knocking out Real Madrid at the last-16 stage.
The Frenchman is one of Los Blancos' weapons when it comes to them believing that the seemingly impossible is possible. Zidane has the ability to convince and motivate his players.
Reasons to not believe:
Only one point
The reality is that nobody thought that after two games - Shakhtar at home and Gladbach away - Real Madrid would be bottom of their Champions League group with one point. Now, the pressure is on ahead of the final four group-stage games.
There is not much margin for error and Los Blancos have not given the impression that they can go and win four straight games, particularly with two coming against Inter.
Lack of goals
This has been a problem since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure in the summer of 2018, but it was not through a lack of trying against Gladbach. The German side scored two goals from more or less their first two shots on target, while Real Madrid needed 16 shots before they netted their first goal in the 86th minute.
Los Blancos rarely translate their dominance into goals and in the end they ended up paying for that, despite Benzema and Casemiro's late goals. This is a game they could, and should, have won.
The toughest opponent is coming
Real Madrid now have back-to-back games against Inter in the Champions League, with the Nerazzurri having also disappointed somewhat after having drawn their opening two games.
Nevertheless, Zidane's side will be coming up against the other giant in the group, first at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano and then the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. There's a chance one of Real Madrid or Inter don't make it to the last 16.
Goodbye to the wall in defence
Real Madrid didn't score many goals last season, but at least they could rely on having a wall at the back. Well, that is no longer the case. Shakhtar scored three goals, Gladbach two... Five goals have been conceded from a total of six shots.
In total, Los Blancos have conceded 12 goals in their last six Champions League games: two at home to Paris Saint-Germain, one away at Club Brugge, four against Manchester City in the last 16, three against Shakhtar at the Di Stefano, and then a brace from Lilian Thuram's son, Marcus.
Vinicius' downturn
The improvement seen in Vinicius Junior now seems to be a mirage. The Brazilian had scored three goals, some of them with good finishing quality, but the match in Germany saw him revert to his old ways.
Imprecise, his problems in front of goal persist. Neither did he display his speed or dribbling ability, which is usually part of the justification in including Vinicius in the line-up. It is not that Rodrygo Goes, the other Brazilian prospect at the club, changes things much when he comes on, too.
If Vinicius really has the talent and desire to succeed at Real Madrid, it will be necessary to give him more time, but the truth is that the Spanish champions do not wait for almost anyone. Asensio, Benzema and Hazard is the trident that Zidane is planning for the comeback.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com