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Real Madrid claimed a much-needed three points with a 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen but their problems remained on show in an unconvincing display with the visitors missing a string of chances.<\/p>\nReal Madrid claimed a much-needed three points with a 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen but their problems remained on show in an unconvincing display with the visitors missing a string of chances.<\/p>\n
Goals in either half from Karim Benzema and Marcelo set the Champions League holders on their way to a first victory in six outings, but Patrik Hrosovsky\u2019s 78th-minute goal set up a nervy finish.<\/p>\n
A victory of any kind was never likely to settle the questions which surround the club and the position of coach Julen Lopetegui days before El Cl\u00e1sico against Barcelona.<\/p>\n
But one in which Madrid squandered several openings through poor decisions and left the door open at the back only begs more.<\/p>\n
The match kicked off in a somewhat strange atmosphere given all that has been going on, and the hosts\u2019 eagerness to score an early goal to settle some nerves was apparent from the start.<\/p>\n
Captain Sergio Ramos almost did exactly that but was frustrated in the fifth minute when his downward header from Gareth Bale\u2019s corner bounced up and on to the post.<\/p>\n
And their vulnerability was soon on show as Milan Petrzela cut inside from the left, only to shoot straight at Kaylor Navas and then hit the side-netting on the rebound.<\/p>\n
If alarm bells were ringing Benzema soon silenced them, at least temporarily, with an 11th-minute opener. The France forward met Lucas Vazquez\u2019s raking cross at the far post with a powerful header which left Ales Hruska with no chance.<\/p>\n
The apprehension was gone but Madrid still struggled to impose themselves on the match as it settled into a slow rhythm.<\/p>\n
Plzen were the next to threaten and it again came down their left as they exposed Vazquez\u2019s defensive shortcomings.<\/p>\n
Petrzela played it into the path of right-back David Limbersky, but his attempt to bend it inside the far post drifted wide.<\/p>\n
Moments later, Benzema wasted a golden chance to double the lead, selfishly shooting straight at the goalkeeper from a tight angle when a square ball would have left Bale with an open goal.<\/p>\n
Bale did have the ball in the net against just after the half hour, but the Welshman was offside when he slid it home.<\/p>\n
There was another let off for the visitors when a dreadful clearance from Hruska went straight to Isco but he sent his chipped shot wide of the post.<\/p>\n
The half ended with Plzen wasting another glorious chance, Hrosovsky somehow diverting the ball high and wide from point-blank range with the Madrid defense static.<\/p>\n
The second half started in a similar vein as Milan Havel missed from in front of goal.<\/p>\n
They were punished for their profligacy as Marcelo doubled the lead after 55 minutes, latching on to a back-flick from Bale and lifting the ball over the goalkeeper.<\/p>\n
Chances soon followed to extend the lead, but Luka Modric shot straight at the goalkeeper while Bale headed wide from a corner before his curling shot from the edge of the area was deflected wide.<\/p>\n
After Vazquez headed Isco\u2019s superb cross wide, Plzen set up a nervous finish as Hrosovsky scored the goal they had been threatening all night, sliding the ball home from the edge of the area for his first career Champions League goal.<\/p>\n
An equalizer never came but as Madrid trudged off the pitch, there was little sense of victory with Lopetegui\u2019s position increasingly uncertain.<\/p>\n