Here's What's Behind Carlo Ancelotti's Formidable Real Madrid Comeback
The Italian manager’s second life with Los Merengues could become one of their most successful ones thanks to a fluid tactic that aims at taking full advantage of a star-studded team
The role of Kross has been especially interesting, for his drops into the half-spaces, where he can enjoy extra time and space to dictate the tempo and pinpoint options in this less densely populated area of the pitch, have given Madrid valuable control. From here, not only can he offer structural security to offer protection in case of a turnover, but he can also launch raking switches of play to isolate the wingers or fullbacks, hit deadly through balls in behind or find Benzema with slick passes to feet.
Moreover, if an opposition midfield or fullback jumps to press him, he can duly exploit the space left behind against their now unbalanced shape. His withdrawn position also helps provide cover if one of the central defenders drives forward on a marauding run into the final third.
Modric's importance to the team cannot be underestimated either, with the Croatian so influential in finding pockets of space to progress attacks. A master at exploiting room behind the opposition midfield and generating overloads, he relishes the freedom Ancelotti affords him.
Once in possession, Modric then breathes life into Madrid's offensive passages through his crafty dribbling and mesmerizing array of passes that ensures he frequently unlocks defenses. Supplying nine assists so far this campaign, the game-changing playmaker's presence has been pivotal towards his team progressing to the semis of the UCL, where his wizardry against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea was key towards his team's famous victories.
Penetrative runs into the box from Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Casemiro have proven to be a vital asset for Los Blancos as well. Timing and directing their runs brilliantly to attack gaps in the opposition backline, these runs have caused marking dilemmas and enhanced their threat by ensuring an extra number is in the box.
Shifting the focus to the roles of the nominal wide players, and their wingers and fullbacks have been a huge source of offensive impetus. To start with, the way they execute smooth rotations has been a brilliant weapon, as these don't just allow the wingers to be isolated but also let the fullbacks embark on damaging underlapping runs into the final third that surprise backlines.
The relationship between Vinicius and Ferland Mendy has been particularly fruitful, with the pair dovetailing superbly to cause a massive nuisance for defenses due to their dribbling, speed and complementary movement. Furthermore, with the right-winger likely to operate more centrally and in the half-spaces, which allows them to combine with Benzema and nearby midfielders, the way Vinicius adds vital width and depth so he can be in ideal isolation battles and expose defenses with blindside runs has given them a real X-Factor in the final third.
Although Los Merengues desire to dominate possession, in matches where this isn't viable, they've still posed a huge menace due to their threat on the counter. Absolutely rapid at springing into life once possession is regained, the wingers (mostly Vinicius) shrewdly target the spaces left vacant by advanced opposition fullbacks to gain an edge.
If the channels aren't available to be attacked down, Benzema serves as an equally excellent outlet, where he can play sharp layoffs to their midfield maestros, provoke multiple pressers, turn his man on the dribble or hold the ball up while he waits for a suitable option.
A fearsome proposition in full flight when attacking backpedaling stretched out and underloaded defensive units, their proficiency has seen them remain dangerous even when they can't monopolize possession.
Topping the league in many key offensive metrics including goals scored (66), expected goals (62.90), shots (15.26 p90), dribbles (32.37 p90), touches inside the box (25.78 p90), key passes (4.62 p90), progressive runs (23.36 p90) and deep completions (12.44 p90) demonstrates what an attacking juggernaut they are.
To further accentuate their class, they also rank second for average possession (58.8%), second for passes into the final third (58.59) p90 and third for through balls (9.68 p90).
Meanwhile, on the defensive end, there's no denying Madrid haven't been as good as they are going forward. Although they've only conceded the second least goals in La Liga this term (28), this is a huge overperformance when compared to their Expected Goals Against, with this figure being at 36.69 (only the seventh-best). The sensational form of Courtois in goal has seen him be a truly indispensable figure, as his shot-stopping heroics have bailed them out on so many occasions.
Conceding 9.48 shots per 90, which is only the eighth-best in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Getafe, Celta Vigo, Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano, this shows their struggles stopping their foes.
Upon analyzing their defensive output, many of their issues stem from the fact they attack in such a spread-out, expansive shape, which clearly works for them, but can often leave them exposed to counterattacks. In doing so, this means they can't immediately counter-press effectively, thus giving opponents time and space to instigate lethal transitions.
The situation isn't helped by the aging midfield trio, who can't track back and cover the turf as efficiently as they once did, which leaves the defenders to deal with attacks where the other team has numerical or positional superiority.
With fullbacks high and at least one of the central midfielders advanced, opponents have found joy getting at Madrid in such cases, with Ancelotti's desire to give his players plenty of attacking liberty often coming back to haunt them.
Another problem has been their inability to sustain their pressing intensity over the entirety of a match from both their 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 defensive shapes. Ranking only 12th in La Liga for PPDA on 10.75 and last for defensive duels (51.62 p90), this demonstrates that they don't aggressively look to regain possession. It must be said, however, that due to Ancelotti having many veteran players, this tactic to sit deeper in a mid/low block makes sense, for it allows them to sit back and use their weapons on the counter upon recovering the ball.
Even though they aren't consistently brilliant in this area, there have been many instances where they've pressed coherently, with the recent UCL quarter-final first leg vs. Chelsea a nice case in point.
Here, they smartly dropped into a staggered 5-3-2/5-4-1 block to deal with Chelsea by instructing Federico Valverde to drop into the last line. Giving them extra coverage and compactness, they did a super job of cutting off the center and hemming them against the touchline to make life tough for the Blues to generate danger.
