With Karim Benzema and Gerard Moreno both sidelined for this LaLiga clash, it was expected that goals would be hard to come by for both sides. Though Villarreal dominated the first half through their isolation of Marcelo on the right wing, it was Real Madrid who will end up regretting the volume of quality chances […]
As the end of the season nears, Real Madrid entered this contest looking for the three points above everything else. Their display did little to impress, probing without penetration in the final third for much of the game. But an unlikely duo from a set-piece broke the deadlock in fortuitous fashion, keeping the champions’ hope […]
Failing to put the tie to bed in the first leg, Chelsea hoped their visitors would not conjure up their black magic in Europe once more. But while chances aplenty went begging, the home team showed their class once more to deliver another shutout and make a return to the holy grail. Tactical analysis and […]
Real Madrid came into this game hungry for the three points, but even that seemed insufficient to satiate the home team. Drained of energy, their 4-3-2-1 press looked jaded from the off while their attacking enterprises struggled to put up a sustained threat. Alterations from the sideline hoped to turn the tide, but an all […]
Liverpool and Real Madrid swapped personas for this encounter, as the English side performed up to their usual standards while the Spaniards failed to truly impact the game. With fatigue leading to forgettable performances from Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos, it was Nacho and Eder Militão who shone for the away side, ably defending their […]
As the giants of Spanish football locked horns once more, the world of football came to a halt. Pitting the two challengers to Atlético Madrid’s title bid against each other, this was set to be the most enthralling El Clásico in years. And living up to its billing, the two teams offered up an action-packed […]
This was a game that was shaping up to be a story of two halves, but Vinícius Júnior ensured that Real Madrid would take the headlines when the dust had settled. After a first half where Liverpool’s execution had allowed Madrid to cut them open, Jürgen Klopp’s side opened the second half with some sequences, […]
Entering the second leg with a slim lead, Real Madrid stuttered against Atalanta’s 5-2-2-1 pressing setup. But the muscle memory of their stars on a big European night proved too much to handle. With a structural change that tilted the match, Zinedine Zidane made sure the big names delivered, sending the home team into the […]
For sixty-five minutes, Atlético Madrid controlled both the events of the Madrid derby and had a firm grip in the title’s course, as Diego Simeone’s team displayed defensive dominance and exposed their opponents’ transitional problems. Then Real Madrid got a hold of the reigns, to grab a point from Atléti’s grasp. The race for the […]
Throughout the 2020/21 season, Real Madrid’s performances have followed the same tactical storyline: they struggle against deep blocks while thriving against opponents who press them high. This trend would continue against Atalanta, with a 17th minute red card forcing the Italian side to defend deep. Real Madrid struggled to break this defense down until a […]