Juventus vs. Real Madrid: Tactical Review of Champions League Game
Juventus claimed a precious 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez scored goals either side of a Cristiano Ronaldo header to give the Bianconeri the advantage.
Formations and XIs
Juventus went with a 4-4-2 diamond but surprised by including Stefano Sturaro in the lineup at the expense of Roberto Pereyra. He played on the left side with Arturo Vidal up front. Giorgio Chiellini re-entered the starting XI at the expense of Andrea Barzagli.
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Real Madrid went 4-4-2 with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale up front, leaving Javier Hernandez on the bench. Sergio Ramos played in central midfield again with Pepe in the defensive line alongside Raphael Varane.
1. Real Madrid Width
The key to this game for Real Madrid was retaining width. They were always going to have to push their full-backs high up to create it, as their wide men aren't touchline-hugging, chalk-on-the-boots No. 7s and No. 11s.
The problem Juve present when playing in a diamond is a near-total blockade of the middle, with the midfield four flattening into a 3-1 shape. The outside CMs spread and the No. 10 harasses the opposing deep-lying midfielder, buzzing about him and preventing ball rotation. It leaves you no choice but to force play to the wings.
Marcelo and Dani Carvajal need no invitation to buccaneer forward, and in particular, Carvajal's forays were effective. He was a constant out-ball on the right side and played a part in Real's equaliser.
The other key component to shifting the ball wide was to shift it quickly; Los Blancos passed crisply and swiftly at the Vicente Calderon in the first leg and only Jan Oblak was responsible for keeping them out. It can be a sight to behold.
Ronaldo's goal saw one-touch football start from the right, releasing James Rodriguez into the box, and the Colombian's clipped cross was headed home. Another move, which saw James hit the bar with a header, was created by switching from right to left, overlapping on the flank and crossing accurately. It works if you do it quick enough.
2. Juventus Counters
Of course, pushing on with two strikers and overlapping with your full-backs leaves you open in obvious areas. Carlo Ancelotti perhaps played Ramos at RCM to try and cover the gaps Carvajal would leave, but the stalwart had a shocking game and left huge gaps to exploit.
In the first six minutes, Juve engineered three counter-attacks of note and then scored two minutes later as they worked the ball into space quickly. Tevez and Morata, adept at finding room to play in, received early passes out (usually from Arturo Vidal), turned and ran at the defensive line.
It was two vs. two or two vs. three with 50 yards to exploit, and Juve's strike partnership combined superbly. Once Real were sufficiently rattled, they started to engage higher up, allowing Tevez to drift into space between the lines and breach the box, and his shot created the opening goal.
It was a complete mess from Real defensively, it must be said. For the goal, no midfielder tracked Tevez and Varane was far too late to step out and sidle up to him. Some may apportion some blame to Marcelo too, but he was kept honest and wide by Stephan Lichtsteiner on the flank.
3. Forced, Direct Play vs. Workmanlike Juve
Inside the first 20 minutes alone, Real forced direct play as if desperate to play over the top of a defensive line that didn't sit particularly high. One ball over the top caught them out and Ronaldo thrashed a hurried effort wide, but most passes were inaccurate or forced to the extent that there was never truly a chance of them finding a colleague.
That tactic, though, could be attributed to the two-man disadvantage Real were facing in midfield. A flat 4-4-2 vs. a diamond saw a clear two vs. four in the central zones, and although James and Isco played narrow, they were at a severe disadvantage.
Juve were dogged and determined off the ball too, making their man advantage count out of possession as well as on it. Morata and Tevez worked hard to block the passing lanes from Kroos to the full-backs, and Ramos looked so ruffled he even battered one diagonal firmly out of play under no pressure.
That left Real's midfield two with one option: try in behind. The disruption and marking in the centre as Juve's diamond flattened out was superb. As Los Blancos forced passes throughout, the home side's threat on the counter grew.
Tevez netted a penalty after a brilliant run where, again, he and Morata were two vs. two. Carvajal was suckered into a silly challenge and the Argentinian netted to reaffirm the scoreline advantage.
Bits and Bobs
- Massimiliano Allegri switched to a 3-5-2 after 60 minutes, replacing Sturaro with Andrea Barzagli. It further solidified their hold in the centre and gave them an extra centre-back body in the box to deal with crosses—of which there were 29 from Real alone, per WhoScored.com.
- Real kept a 4-4-2 shape throughout, with Bale moving to the right wing when Javier Hernandez replaced Isco. Same shape, same approach, and there was zero service from the Welshman.
- Vidal deserves immense credit for doing three mens' shifts on the night. He was absolutely everywhere; passing out from the back, starting attacks and spearheading counters.
- It's a bit late in the day, but your pro player comparison for Morata has to be (peak) Radamel Falcao. Deceptively fast, hardworking, moves into the channels superbly and scores poacher's goals.
The second leg is very likely to take a very similar shape; Real need a goal so they will attack, and Juve don't so they'll defend—as is their reflex—and attack via the pace of Tevez and Morata again. It's finely poised.
