Where would Madrid be without Ramos?

Sergio Ramos so crucial for Madrid. Image via Marca

Real Madrid are safely into the draw for the Champions League, still 10/11 favourites to win La Liga but if they claim any silverware this season they will have one man to thank more than most, Sergio Ramos.

The captain has already scored more goals this season than Mesut Ozil, Isco and Anthony Martial and was at it again in Naples on Tuesday night as the Serie A side gave los Blancos an almighty fright in the Champions League.

Ramos to the rescue again

Leading 3-1 from the first leg at the Bernabeu, Madrid were confident of securing a last eight berth with relatively little fuss but Dries Mertens’ goal after 24 minutes sent nerves jangling throughout the Spanish capital.

However, with Madrid wobbling up stepped Ramos yet again to head home just after half-time before adding a second six minutes later just to make sure as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners, 6-2 on aggregate.

It was another match-winning performance from the defender and Pepe Reina admitted after the match that Ramos is “impossible to defend against” – no surprise then that he’s the top scoring defender in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

But it’s not just the quantity of goals that Ramos scores, it’s the sheer timing, the very importance of his strikes. Of the 21 goals he has scored since the 2014 Champions League final 18 have come when Madrid are behind or drawing.

Sergio’s striker’s instinct

Take this season for instance, a header to force extra-time in the Super Cup win over Sevilla in August, an equaliser against Villarreal in September, a stoppage time equaliser at Barcelona in December, an injury-time winner against Deportivo a week later, another late goal against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, two goals to beat Malaga. You couldn’t make it up. Well you could, but no one would believe you.

He’s scored more career goals (81) than Andres Iniesta (72). That’s the same Iniesta who has won eight Liga titles, the Copa del Rey four times, the Champions League four times and of course the small matter of the World Cup.

He’s also scored more Real Madrid goals than Gareth Bale this season, only Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata have scored more than the, let’s not forget, 30-year-old centre-back.

He’s also the fourth highest scoring defender in Champions League history behind only Roberto Carlos, Gerard Pique and Christian Panucci, and there are so many more European fixtures left for Ramos to play.

Madrid still have some way to go of course before they potentially pick up a first title since 2012 and some tasty looking fixtures to come with Zinedine Zidane’s side still to face Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

Ramos has already scored against Barca and his former side Sevilla this season and few would bet against him adding to that tally, particularly if there is a league title up for grabs.