THREAD: how did Ancelotti’s Real Madrid trashed Míchel’s Girona in the most important game of this LaLiga season? Tactical keys of Carlo’s masterclass.
P.S. I couldn’t use videos due LaLiga restrictions, so content was limited. I tried to compensate it with clear explanations.
P.S. I couldn’t use videos due LaLiga restrictions, so content was limited. I tried to compensate it with clear explanations.
Tactical keys:
. RM on the ball plan
. RM deep block: overloading the central zones & 1v1 markings
. Midfield compactness
. Valverde’s role
. Bellingham false #9
. Vinícius defensive role
. RM on the ball plan
. RM deep block: overloading the central zones & 1v1 markings
. Midfield compactness
. Valverde’s role
. Bellingham false #9
. Vinícius defensive role
First, the XIs. Real Madrid had no available CBs, so Carvajal-Tchouaméni was the unprecedented pair. That moved Kroos to #6 & put Camavinga at LCM.
Girona went w/o Blind/López, so Juanpe was the LCB. Herrera injured meant Portu was the #10 & Ivan Martín moved next to Aleix.
Girona went w/o Blind/López, so Juanpe was the LCB. Herrera injured meant Portu was the #10 & Ivan Martín moved next to Aleix.
1. On the ball plan
It wasn’t dominating tb (49% 1stH possession) but being dominant when having it. They involved as many players as they could when attacking (#8’s with freedom, both FBs going forward) & tried to move Girona’s block with constant ball switches.
It wasn’t dominating tb (49% 1stH possession) but being dominant when having it. They involved as many players as they could when attacking (#8’s with freedom, both FBs going forward) & tried to move Girona’s block with constant ball switches.
Vinícius & Rodrygo had freedom to move between the lines. They weren’t playing as touchline wingers. The idea was to open Girona’s defence w/o playing a rigid structure, that’s why they were constantly ‘out of position’ & interchanged zones with the FBs.
2. RM deep block
2.1. Overloading the central zones
2.1.1 Off the ball
When pressing, blocking central spaces using the top physical conditions of the #8’s & Jude. If Girona broke lines, they tracked back quickly, & when they got into finishing zones, block every possible space.
2.1. Overloading the central zones
2.1.1 Off the ball
When pressing, blocking central spaces using the top physical conditions of the #8’s & Jude. If Girona broke lines, they tracked back quickly, & when they got into finishing zones, block every possible space.
When defending deep, team was in medium/low block that tried to block the passing options through the centre. For that, midfield 3 played very compact. If Vini didn’t track, Camavinga occupied the LHS & Rodrygo compensated building a midfield 4. Jude also very close to midfield.
2.1.2 On the ball
Wingers playing close to each other ala Diniz, Jude choosing where to move to impact the best possible way, #8’s with freedom to arrive into the box, FBs positioning wide or close depending on the situation.
Wingers playing close to each other ala Diniz, Jude choosing where to move to impact the best possible way, #8’s with freedom to arrive into the box, FBs positioning wide or close depending on the situation.
2.2 1v1 markings
Main key to annul Girona’s buildup. A medium block that stayed compact while made individual duels. Miguel’s influence was nulled, Martín’s reduced.
Kroos vs Martín, Rodrygo vs Miguel, Jude vs Aleix, Vini vs Couto, Lucas vs Sávio, Valverde vs Portu.
Main key to annul Girona’s buildup. A medium block that stayed compact while made individual duels. Miguel’s influence was nulled, Martín’s reduced.
Kroos vs Martín, Rodrygo vs Miguel, Jude vs Aleix, Vini vs Couto, Lucas vs Sávio, Valverde vs Portu.
3. Midfield compactness
Kroos central & always close to the CBs, #8’s covering ground/playing close to #6 using their elite physicality & tactical awareness. They blocked passing lines to Girona’s creators & oriented possession to the flanks, so they could move as a block.
Kroos central & always close to the CBs, #8’s covering ground/playing close to #6 using their elite physicality & tactical awareness. They blocked passing lines to Girona’s creators & oriented possession to the flanks, so they could move as a block.
4. Valverde’s role
Key to annul Girona & Portu’s influence. When #6 jumped, built a double pivot with EC. In medium block, man marking Portu building a back 5. In deep block, the closest midfielder to the defence. When forwards didn’t track, close to #6 while attentive to Miguel.
Key to annul Girona & Portu’s influence. When #6 jumped, built a double pivot with EC. In medium block, man marking Portu building a back 5. In deep block, the closest midfielder to the defence. When forwards didn’t track, close to #6 while attentive to Miguel.
His role was key, but what was even more important was how could he did it, & he did it in extraordinarily. 90’ of intensity, discipline, bravery, tactical intelligence & retention to allow the team installing forward. Just like in every elite game, he proved being an elite CM.
5. Bellingham false #9
5.1 On the ball
Played through the whole gap between Girona’s defence & midfield, deciding when to move to the right, centre or left. That allowed #8’s to play high. Like always, it was impossible for the rival to detect him.
5.1 On the ball
Played through the whole gap between Girona’s defence & midfield, deciding when to move to the right, centre or left. That allowed #8’s to play high. Like always, it was impossible for the rival to detect him.
Apart from Jude’s interpretation & reading of spaces, key to make this work was how the team would compensate his moves. Ancelotti worked it great: #8’s ahead of tb with freedom to arrive into the box, FBs occupying the free zones when he dropped, lot of movement around him.
5.2 Off the ball
When RM was in medium/deep block, he had to mark Aleix. When they were installed on Girona’s half, he had to choose when to start the pressing. He was the pressing leader, & Girona couldn’t play from the back once RM decided to counterpress -not many times-.
When RM was in medium/deep block, he had to mark Aleix. When they were installed on Girona’s half, he had to choose when to start the pressing. He was the pressing leader, & Girona couldn’t play from the back once RM decided to counterpress -not many times-.
6. Vinícius defensive role
Used to stay close to RCB/disconnect from defence, he had a clear mission: blocking the pass to Couto. He obviously had moments of breathing, but his defensive position was much deeper than usual. Similar to vs Barcelona. Tactical variant for top games.
Used to stay close to RCB/disconnect from defence, he had a clear mission: blocking the pass to Couto. He obviously had moments of breathing, but his defensive position was much deeper than usual. Similar to vs Barcelona. Tactical variant for top games.
And that’s how Ancelotti made Real Madrid winning 4-0, generating 3.21xG and conceding 0.28 against one of the revelations of Europe that is also the team who is in the race with them for the league title. Always under appreciated, Carlo did a tactical masterclass. Respect.
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