Stat attack: Real Madrid rank rock bottom in key metric in La Liga this season

Stat attack: Real Madrid rank rock bottom in key metric in La Liga this season Real Madrid are heading into the international break with more questions than answers, having recently fallen to a 2-1 defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid. Jose Mourinho’s men have already lost two matches so far this campaign and, perhaps more importantly, the team has barely shown any signs of cohesion. The team has underperformed despite having one of the most decorated rosters in all of Europe. Real Madrid running the least in LaLiga According to data from Sofascore, Real Madrid are the team that runs the least in LaLiga so far this season. Courtesy: SofaScore Across the opening seven matchdays, Los Blancos have covered an average of just 83.46 kilometres per match, the lowest figure in the entire division. To put that into perspective, they are running around 10 kilometres less per game than the league average of 93.37 kilometres. The contrast with Barcelona is even more striking. Hansi Flick’s side rank second in the metric with an average of 104.64 kilometres. That means Real Madrid cover a staggering 21 kilometres less than their title rivals every game. Elche top the chart at 105.61 kilometres. While distance covered is not the sole measure of a team’s quality, the numbers offer a telling insight into the lack of intensity that has plagued Real Madrid in the early weeks of the campaign. A worrying trend for Mourinho Mourinho must find answers during the break. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) The statistic reinforces many of the criticisms levelled at Real Madrid this season, particularly the sense that the side lacks energy and collective effort. Pundits and former players alike have questioned the team’s work rate, with the likes of Alvaro Benito recently pointing out that the problems runs deeper than coaches and players. The concern is that Real Madrid’s star-studded attackers, including Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, are not contributing enough off the ball, leaving the team disjointed. Mourinho himself has repeatedly stressed the importance of everyone working as a unit, and these figures suggest his message is yet to fully translate onto the pitch. With Real Madrid five points adrift of Barcelona, the international break offers Mourinho a valuable window to address these shortcomings.