Espanyol vs. Real Madrid: How Should Rafa Benitez's Side Line Up?
Following the first international session of 2015/16, Real Madrid must consider themselves unlucky.
All clubs have one wish during spells in domestic play: their international players return unscathed. Even more pertinent, they hope no stars accrue injury while playing for their respective countries.
James Rodriguez, in Real's last match before the break, offered a man-of-the-match performance. Directly responsible for three goals in a 5-0 drubbing of Real Betis, the Colombian attacker seemed to have found an early rhythm for the campaign.
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On duty with Colombia, however, the 24-year-old reportedly tore a thigh muscle, as claimed by his club (h/t ESPN FC), and he could miss Madrid's third Primera Division fixture, versus Espanyol.
Rafa Benitez is finding life at, arguably, the world's largest football club challenging. From the David De Gea saga, to an opening-day draw and tinkering with the position of Gareth Bale, the Spaniard is attempting to make the club his own rather than an awkward rendition of Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Changing from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, Benitez can play a more possession-based game, detaching slightly from the blistering direct, counter-attacking trope often seen under the previous regime.
With one of his key attacking pieces sidelined, the former Valencia, Liverpool, Chelsea and Napoli boss could easily revert to the 4-3-3 against Espanyol, but he will likely continue developing the 4-2-3-1 tactic.
If the formation used, there are two major decisions to be made.
The first is Bale.
Two goals from two matches would suggest the No. 10 experiment is taking root, but with Rodriguez out, Isco seems an ideal replacement. The 23-year-old midfielder can play wide, but his preferred position is central. Similar things could be said for James, but the Colombian is more versatile than his Spanish team-mate.
Instead of playing Isco on the right, Benitez could start the left-footed Bale on the right-hand flank—allowing him to use his pace and naturally cutting ability. The predominately right-footed Isco would play as more of a provider on the right wing, crossing balls into the 18-yard box and linking with his full-back.
Bale offers dynamism out wide, but is the Madrid manager willing to disrupt one of his primary stratagems to accommodate Isco? Probably not. The move—though logical—might look a sign of weakness in the Spanish manager's mind.
Just two matches into his Madrid tenure, Benitez can be wrong, but what he cannot afford to be is perceived as weak. Moving Bale's position after 180 minutes might be translated as trepidation, which is cancerous at a club like Real Madrid.
The second and final item for the manager to solve is tempo.
Last season's match at the Cornella-El Prat was goalless for almost an hour. The first goal of a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick opened the scoring but was answered by Espanyol in 14 minutes, thanks in large part to horrendous Madrid build-up play.
Madrid scored three late goals to take three points, but the opening hour should give Benitez pause. Ancelotti's men were dealing with the pressure of a title race, but found scoring a challenge for 59 minutes, largely because they allowed Espanyol to control the game's tempo.
Real Madrid, wherever they are, play as the understood home side: invariably on the front foot, creating chances and hardly camped in their own half.
Pressing the issue appears Madrid's best solution for an away win at the Cornella-El Prat.
Benitez must give his players the license to express themselves.
His first away match ended 0-0. If anything less than three points is taken, more than injury woes await.
Stats are via WhoScored.com; transfer fees are via Soccerbase where not noted.
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