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Four ways Real Madrid can shape their attack vs PSG without Karim Benzema
The biggest clash of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is undoubtedly the face-off between Real Madrid and PSG. Both sides lead their respective leagues and promise to put up a gargantuan performance to seek a place in the Quarterfinals.
Los Blancos have been dealt with a big injury blow ahead of the critical clash. Karim Benzema’s absence is the reason for the club’s recent dip in form. Though initially thought to be a minor problem, the player has taken longer than expected to recover.
Now, his place in the starting lineup against PSG is in doubt even though Benzema traveled with the team.
The most tempting option for Carlo Ancelotti will be to deploy Gareth Bale as the central striker with two wingers to complement him. Vinicius Jr has earned a permanent spot on the left-wing, but the right-wing is where the manager needs to make a decision.
The combination of Vinicius – Bale could be completed by either Marco Asensio or Valverde. The Vinicius-Bale-Asensio lineup seems to be the way to go, but the latter’s tendency to disconnect from the game can be a real worry. Yet, the Vinicius-Bale-Rodrygo lineup has its vices too as the latter struggles with his decision-making in the final third.
The third possibility would be to drop Bale and play Asensio as the central striker with the two Brazilian wingers, namely Vinicius and Rodrygo on either side. This formation will prove to be very dynamic, but seemingly lacks a finisher who can make runs.
The last option at Ancelotti’s hands is the trio of Vinicius – Hazard – Bale. In this case, it is the unclear form of the Belgian that proves to be a drawback.
It remains to be seen as to which trident the manager opts for on the night. The Parc des Princes will not be an easy venue to walk away with three points. Needless to say, the front three will have to be the X factor on the night.
Real Madrid made a mess of their game against Elche last night, and it is clear that the men in white have several flaws with no answers at the moment.
From being 2-0 up, the men in white bottled their lead and threw the game into jeopardy by permitting Elche to score two goals. The result, as many saw it, was set to end in a draw.
With some persistent attacks in the dying minutes, however, Real Madrid managed to build pressure on Elche and eventually scored one more goal at the death to take home the three points.
Needless to say, however, the negatives from the game far outweigh the positive news of the three points.
Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways from Elche 2-3 Real Madrid.
Another second-half collapse
After Real Madrid’s win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, Jose Mourinho stressed the fact that Real Madrid actually played only one half and that the fatigue began showing after the break.
On the night, the opposition began to enjoy more dominance and create chances after half-time as they outran and outpressed Los Blancos to good effect.
Last night was no different, and the second half went completely awry.
The men in white entered the half-time break cruising with a 2-0 lead and significant dominance over the proceedings. They had a massive xG, with Elche barely creating any chances of note.
After the break, however, the entire dynamic of the game changed as Real Madrid took a step back and handed the impetus to the hosts. Pressing high and attacking without fear, Elche dominated Real Madrid for most of the second half and had a staggering 60% of possession.
They scored twice – in the 71st and 83rd minutes – and equalised Real Madrid on the night. Given the visitors’ shambolic display, it was deserved for Elche.
At this point, the constant second-half collapses and fatigue struggles of the team after just 45 minutes of action must worry Jose Mourinho immensely. Heading into a derby away from home, Real Madrid have to do much better.
The away curse continues
While Real Madrid’s form at home has been imperious this season, their form away from home has been equally shocking.
They began their season with a last-minute win over Espanyol, and their second league game of the season on the road came against Real Betis and ended in defeat.
Heading into their third away game last night, there was an element of worry about how they would perform, and the trend continued once more.
Real Madrid did well to take the lead on the night, but they made the second half a massive war and far more difficult than it should have been.
At this point, serious questions have to be raised about Real Madrid’s form on the road and their inability to keep games under control when playing in away stadiums.
Heading forward in the season, Los Blancos have some massive away games coming up against far more difficult opposition. The Madrid derby is up next, and the team’s form is nothing promising heading into that fixture.
Carlos Espi saves the day… again!
Real Madrid are currently on 15 points after six games in the league, but Carlos Espi has directly contributed to a massive chunk of that.
If not for the new Spanish striker’s ability to come up clutch in big moments, Real Madrid could well have been on just 11 points at this stage in the season, and the four points he has added are absolutely crucial.
Against Espanyol, it was Espi who scored a stoppage-time winner to hand Real Madrid all three points after a complicated match. Last night, he repeated the same heroics once more.
With the team staring at a draw, the new signing was at the right place at the right time to bury Kylian Mbappe’s assist in stoppage time, handing Real Madrid all three points at the death.
He may not have played a large part on the night, but his cameo was again powerful and it is clear that he elevates the team’s attack and provides new solutions in front of goal. Espi has already proven his talent, and his ability to perform under pressure is what makes him special.
