Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: Mario Mandzukic Can Punish Real's Dodgy Defence
The Madrid derby returns for a third incarnation this season and a whopping seventh overall in 2014, with Real Madrid set to host Atletico Madrid on Saturday at the Bernabeu.
After two games both sides have dropped points, with los Colchoneros drawing away to Rayo Vallecano in the opener and los Blancos, somehow, squandering a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 away to Real Sociedad the following week.
Let's take a look at how a game between two sides who are incredibly familiar with each other, could play out in a tactical sense.
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Real Madrid
Real Madrid's biggest concern heading into the match is the fitness of the world's best player, Cristiano Ronaldo. He missed the 4-2 loss to La Real and Paulo Bento didn't risk him in Portugal's loss to Albania. Is it us, or is there a pattern emerging here?
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to roll out another 4-3-3, but plenty of question marks hang over the selection: Fabio Coentrao or Marcelo? Asier Illarramendi, Isco or James Rodriguez?
Alvaro Arbeloa will replace the injured Dani Carvajal, James will feature in place of Ronaldo if he's unfit and Toni Kroos will likely anchor the formation in place of Xabi Alonso.
Atletico Madrid
"This is a game that has been in the works for some time. Since we finished our last match, the team has been thinking about Real Madrid," Cristian Ansaldi has admitted pre-match (h/t IBTimes.co.uk).
Diego Simeone will be absent once again due to a touchline suspension, so German Burgos, nicknamed "The Raging Bull", will once again prowl the chalk, barking orders and organising from afar.
The team haven't hit top-gear without Simeone's presence, looking toothless in the draw with Rayo and really quite sketchy in the following win over lowly Eibar.
If you were wondering how great an impact the Argentine makes on this unit, look no further than the difference between the Supercopa de Espana matches and the opening two league games.
Predicting Atletico's XI is tough now considering the depth available, but the 4-4-2 outlined is possibly the strongest available set.
Key Tactical Area 1: (Aerial) Balls into the Box
The Sergio Ramos-Pepe partnership was a serious strength of last season, but right now it's struggling with the basics.
Balls into the box are a centre-back's bread and butter, but consistently over the last four or five outings, Real Madrid's defenders have failed to deal with them:
- Diego Godin's header in the Champions League final
- Raul Garcia's poked effort in the Supercopa de Espana
- Set-piece routine away to Real Sociedad (1-2)
- David Zurutuza's header away to Real Sociedad (2-2)
- Zurutuza's sweeped finish, following a Sergio Canales cross, away to Real Sociedad (2-3)
- Carlos Vela's set-piece goal away to, yep, you guessed it, Real Sociedad (2-4)
This is a massive concern coming up against Mario Mandzukic, who has made a living out of bullying defenders in the air and notching headed goals. With supply from the flanks supplied by Guilherme Siqueira, Antoine Griezmann and Co., it could be a long evening.
Key Tactical Area 2: Replacing Angel Di Maria's Drive and Carvajal's Option
Carvajal's injury is perhaps more threatening than many neutrals realise, as he's become a strong option moving forward post-Di Maria.
Isco started against La Real and played as the driving central midfielder in a 4-3-3, but he's not in tip-top form. Much in the same way Gylfi Sigurdsson underperformed for Tottenham last season due to the pressure attached to his rare starts, the former Malaga is ace is struggling when he gets thrown a rare bone.
An Illarramendi-Kroos-Luka Modric midfield has no hope of breaking down Atletico's deep banks of four, and either James or Isco really need to start again. Without Carvajal as an out-ball on the right to get in behind Siqueira, their dribbling skills in tight spaces are key.
