Atletico Madrid entered the match against Real Madrid with determination, quickly setting a high competitive tempo and striking first on the scoreboard. Real Madrid’s head coach, Xabi Alonso, swiftly navigated his team through the early uncertainty. Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler delivered an impressive goals, showcasing their agility as they sliced through Atletico’s defense, leaving goalkeeper Jan Oblak with no chance to respond.
Capitalizing on Atletico Madrid’s defensive vulnerabilities, Kylian Mbappe started a counteratack in the midfield, passing the ball to Arda Guler, who then found a perfect gap to find the French star amid the defense rivals. With a high pace, Mbappe defeat them, finding a perfect space to score an important goal to tie the game for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe not only leads in scoring but also excels in playmaking, constantly creating opportunities for his teammates. Moments after his last goal, he initiated another counterattack from midfield, finding Vinicius Jr. on the wing. The Brazilian exhibited remarkable agility, dribbling past Atletico Madrid defenders. With precision, he assisted Arda Guler at the edge of the box, who wasted no time, unleashing a powerful shot to secure his team’s second goal.
Despite showcasing a powerful offensive drive, Real Madrid faced notable challenges in aerial duels. Atletico quickly exploited this weakness in the first half. Soon after Arda Guler’s goal, midfielder Koke skillfully advanced down the left wing and delivered a precise cross to Alexander Sorloth. Unmarked in the box, Sorloth headed the ball past the defenders, leaving Xabi Alonso’s defense flat-footed and without any chance to respond.
Real Madrid attack impresses, but defensive struggles remain a major concern
Xabi Alonso has successfully built a potent offense that can dominate games, but Real Madrid’s defensive line remains their Achilles’ heel. The long-term injury to defensive stalwart Antonio Rudiger has severely dented their aerial prowess. Although Dean Huijsen and Eder Militao excel in one-on-one situations and ball handling, their inability to effectively defend against crosses has already cost them two goals in the first half.
Real Madrid’s decision to stick with a defensive duo, rather than utilizing three center backs, has proven to be a significant error. During Xabi Alonso’s successful stint at Leverkusen, his most effective strategy always involved two center backs with excellent footwork and a dominant figure in the area. Currently, the lack of this setup, or the absence of Tchouameni in the defensive line, is costing the team dearly, especially in their aerial prowess.