Match Report: How Real Madrid can look to nullify Liverpool
Real Madrid and Liverpool’s UCL clash offers a chance at making the best out of a poor season from both clubs.
On April 6th, the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals return, and what a match to kick it all off with Real Madrid vs Liverpool. As a Real Madrid fan, the match has me ecstatic and got me thinking about which factors could help Madrid to overcome the Reds. In the following article, I will be taking a look at how Real Madrid can solve the puzzle that is Liverpool, but it has to be said, that this article will look at broad footballing concepts and will analyze only certainties amongst Liverpool and Real Madrid. Suggestions of in-depth tactical concepts and patterns that should be utilized are not realistic within this context, noting the randomness of football that I would be oversimplifying. 3 broad footballing “concepts” that I feel are key for Real Madrid to utilize are, establishing quantitative superiorities in their box to nullify Liverpool’s cross-focused game, stretching the depth of Liverpool’s backline with runs-in behind, and building out of the back by playing “behind” Liverpool’s press.
CASE STUDY: LIVERPOOL 0- 2 EVERTON
In this Merseyside Derby, we saw Everton finally outlast their arch-rivals away from home by two goals, in a largely defensive performance from Ancelotti. Everton did well to hold back Liverpool in their 5-3-2 formation, which I thought was a masterstroke from Carlo to deal with the cross-heavy Liverpool gameplan. With three CBs largely towering over the box, like Michael Keane who swept up many crosses and long balls with excellent positioning, they were able to deal well with the universal Reds’ plan to create chaos in front of their goal. The video below is just an example of Everton dealing with the “chaos” in the box.
Such a way of defending is very much a possibility from Real Madrid. Although it’s not likely that Zidane’s side will retreat to goal, at some point in the game, Madrid will be brought deep into their own half. The 3-5-2 has been a new go-to for Zidane, often moving into 5-3-2 like Everton’s when pushed deep, and could possibly be what he goes with on Tuesday. Even with Ramos out, Varane and Militao are Keane-like figures, marauding and dominant in the air just as the Englishman was that night. The domination of their own box from balls-in proves time and time again the key to halting Liverpool and Madrid certainly have the capabilities to establish such a superiority.
CASE STUDY: LIVERPOOL 0 -1 CHELSEA
In a classic clash amongst heavyweights of the Premier League top 6, Chelsea dealt the Reds yet another loss at Anfield, with many noticeable occurrences guiding them there. Most important of those occurrences was Timo Werner’s thorning runs-in behind Liverpool’s backline when the Blue’s pushed forward. These runs were menacing for the duo of Fabinho and Kabak and were often the reason why Chelsea was able to move deep into Liverpool’s half.
In Chelsea’s pass map vs Liverpool below, you’ll see Werner’s (#11) high positioning from where many runs were able to be conveniently launched in, such positioning is highly important in pinning the backline.
Credit: @__elJdP
The constant threat showed that dealing with these runs were a threat for Liverpool, and if we look back at Everton’s first goal against Liverpool, it was a Richarlison run, peeling off Kabak to score.
Credit: @__elJdP
The constant threat showed that dealing with these runs were a threat for Liverpool, and if we look back at Everton’s first goal against Liverpool, it was a Richarlison run, peeling off Kabak to score.
In the video below, you’ll some of the intelligent and worrisome-runs Werner pulled off at Anfield that night:
Amongst the Real Madrid squad, the smartest and most commonly utilized runners are Vinicius Jr. and Ferland Mendy, both of who should be stretching the depth of Liverpool throughout the game, as they did in the first leg vs Atalanta (clips of their runs below).
But this pass map of Real Madrid’s from the second leg gives us a great idea of where Vinicius’ positioning (#20) could be very threatening. Being more central-oriented will allow him to make runs off of a slower and blindsided CB in the halfspace.
Credit: @__elJdP
Ferland Mendy will similarly move into this central position often, as seen in this video, and can move in and out with Vinicius to help wreak havoc just like they did vs Atalanta.
CASE STUDY: LIVERPOOL 1- 4 MANCHESTER CITY
In this match, Guardiola’s side gave us a masterclass in how to build out the back and beat the press. Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Joao Cancelo, amongst others, played “behind” Liverpool’s front three, while Ruben Dias and John Stones invited pressure excellently. What I mean by this is that they operated within, and occupied spaces that were vacated by Liverpool’s front three, through their blindsiding advantage and the CBs gained easy passing angles as a result. I explain an example of this below:
Similarly, Real Madrid has the capabilities to operate out the back this way, via likely the best midfield duo in Europe, of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The intelligence and talent of these two will allow Madrid to occupy vacated space wonderfully, and attract opposition to open space, as I explain in the video below:
Hopefully, this match turns out to be a Champions League classic, regardless of the result. The different tactical set-ups will be interesting to watch and observe at the match, but these concepts are a must if Real are to be successful tactically, regardless of who plays where. They must gain quantitative superiorities in their box when dealing with Liverpool’s crosses as Everton established. Stretching the depth of Liverpool’s defensive shape like Chelsea did is another key, as well as the rational occupation of space in the buildup that allowed Manchester City to dominate the Reds.
Written by ZB also known as the @/theblancotimes on Twitter.
