Getafe vs. Real Madrid: Tactical Review of La Liga Game
Real Madrid extended their reign at the top of the Liga table this weekend as they dispatched city rivals Getafe 3-0 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a brace either side of a Gareth Bale flicked finish to seal the points.
Formations and XIs
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Getafe play a 4-2-3-1 that drops into a 4-4-2 in defence. Pedro Leon lined up on the right, Pablo Sarabia on the left and Sammir through the middle behind the striker.
Real Madrid actually played as close to a 4-2-3-1 as they've been this season during the first half, with James Rodriguez seemingly in a loose No. 10 role.
1. First-Half Disappointments
The first half of this game was marred by misplaced passes and sloppy play.
From Raphael Varane to Karim Benzema and everyone in between, Real Madrid shot themselves in the foot time and time again as they squandered their own good positions. Getafe replicated that feat, with any and all counter-attacking chances being wasted due to profligacy and poor touches.
Gareth Bale was, for the most part, cancelled out by a lack of space to work in and the strong play of Roberto Lago, while Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to infringe on Benzema's zones and complicate play higher up.
Sammir was a huge disappointment carrying the ball forward on counter-attacks, and on the rare occasion he did break between the lines successfully, Sarabia and Alvaro Vazquez never failed to sky their shots and waste their chances.
Even Toni Kroos' set pieces were off target—they're usually exceptional to say the least.
2. King Benzema in the Channels
It truly amazes that the Santiago Bernabeu took so long to warm to Benzema, and it amazes further when you realise some sections still don't like him much.
Without question, the Frenchman was the key factor in deciding this match. Getafe's low block, in the shape of a 4-4-2 but edging toward a 4-5-1 under extreme pressure, was proving tough to break down. Real Madrid managed 14 shots by half-time, but the majority were from distance via a frustrated Ronaldo or an opportunistic Toni Kroos.
The key to beating these deep-set formations is to either a) dribble at the players, forcing missed tackles and creating new avenues for passes or b) get around/behind the formation by hitting the byline and entering the box.
Benzema chose option B, gliding forward on the left, reaching the line and cutting inward. He did it twice, the first ending in a blocked shot by Isco following his brilliant cut-back, the second ending in a Ronaldo goal to break the deadlock.
If Carlo Ancelotti insists on playing the slower 4-3-3 as opposed to the more direct 4-4-2, Benzema's movement in the channels, toward the byline and between the lines becomes more important than ever.
3. Stretching Out
Ronaldo's opening goal tempted Getafe to push forward and attack, and within minutes, it was 2-0 as Bale swept home. The type of goal it was—counter, cross and far-post finish—was not possible in the first half due to Getafe's low block, but they were forced to expand after conceding and left space in behind.
At this point, the Blancos essentially abandoned any sort of "formation" (it was loosely 4-2-3-1 before players just started drifting around), with the front four all interchanging and swapping around. What impressed most was that all four spread themselves out naturally to cover every zone on the pitch rather than bunching up and overcrowding particular areas.
James started popping up left and right, rather than just centrally, and his two crosses created the second and third goals. Bale, now free of intense marking from the first half, found more space to work with and managed to get Lago one vs. one far more often.
The opportunity for Getafe to attack was still present with Madrid committing numbers, but despite swapping all three of Leon, Sammir and Sarabia, the replacements failed to make their mark.
Fredy Hinestroza crossed late for Vazquez to strike the post from close range in the only dangerous attack of note.
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