Managing Madrid - PSG vs Real madrid, Champions League: All the updatesDominating European football since March 6th 1902https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50831/mm-fav.png2018-02-16T15:55:39+01:00http://www.managingmadrid.com/rss/stream/93382162018-02-16T15:55:39+01:002018-02-16T15:55:39+01:00Analyzing Isco and Casemiro Against PSG
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<img alt="Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J1uQxHCYCrTzXFCaCFL2rIVqyUw=/0x0:4929x3286/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58716605/918284836.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>New column: The small details against PSG, including dealing with Neymar, the role of Isco and Casemiro, Marcelo’s performance, and more.</p> <p id="knQSB2"><em>These observations — where I look at </em><a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/"><em><strong>Real Madrid</strong></em></a><em>’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts -- are now a regular weekly thing. All previous editions can be found </em><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/kiyans-observations"><em><strong>here</strong></em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="5K897R">Being at the Bernabeu for Wednesday’s first leg <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> triumph over PSG was special. The party started hours before the match, and continues as I write this. It was the kind of atmosphere you’d expect from a match like this — one that defines your season so greatly, you can’t afford to be mediocre. The European DNA must boil within you -- or you’re toast.</p>
<p id="NWZ6rU">The margin of error is small. <a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid</a>’s 3-1 result may have been flattering for them, given that Neymar (mostly), and PSG threatened on the counter and poked fun at Real Madrid’s repeatedly capricious transition defense, while Keylor came up big in key moments; but it could’ve easily flattered PSG if it ended any other way. The way the Parisians played, the way they were managed, and the way they responded to Real Madrid’s second half surge was an all-too-familiar sight for them. They had difficulty coping with the pace and bowling-ball-like nature of Zidane’s three subs — <span>Gareth Bale</span>, Marco Asensio, <span>Lucas Vazquez</span> — and began to thin out their defensive shape as the game wore on. Their high line in the second half was suicide, as was manifested on Real Madrid’s second goal where Gareth Bale slices Emery’s back-line open with a great through-ball-dink to an on-rushing Asensio. Heck, we even saw a Draxler midfield cameo (an experiment that should’ve ended months ago) while Angel Di Maria, a highly capable two-way midfielder, didn’t see the light of day.</p>
<p id="XkIAYE">Emery’s not buying any of it. Real Madrid escaped, in his eyes, and rode the back of the referee into the sunset as their 12th man.</p>
<p id="KPsJxm">“The ref favoured them in the fouls, the yellow cards, and for me it was not a penalty. they tell me there was a Ramos handball for a penalty. Criteria not the same.”</p>
<p id="FDXSje">PSG get tested in Ligue 1 more than we think. In the lead-up to this game, they strung together unconvincing performances against Toulouse and Sochaux. That’s normal — big teams struggle during the wear-and-tear of a season. But put to the sword like this? It’s rare. The team stumbled in arguably their two biggest tests this season, against Bayern and Lyon. Emery resurfaced demons and bad habits from both those games -- Lo Celso struggling to string things together as an anchor (against Lyon) while finding it difficult dealing with a high press, the wonky Draxler in midfield experiment, defending counters (against Bayern, and again in the second half against Real Madrid), etc. This team wasn’t <em>that</em> invincible. <a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/2018/2/13/17003476/the-state-of-real-madrid-and-psg-heading-into-the-biggest-fixture-of-the-season-for-both-teams">They had caveats sprinkled into their season</a>.</p>
<p id="uYHljq">They’re clearly dangerous, though, and few things in world football are as terrifying as facing Neymar with the ball running at full-throttle. It’s difficult to defend, and Real Madrid often found themselves needing two-or-three bodies to close the Brazilian down:</p>
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<p id="1uMf44">Collectively, this is a good defensive sequence. Isco stays with Neymar through the whole play. Both he and Nacho lunge in unsuccessfully, but the third hounder, Casemiro, is the figure who puts an end to Neymar’s hoodwinking. Doubling-up and protecting the flanks was always going to be important against the wing trailblazers that PSG has, but the fact that Neymar drew this much attention opened up other opportunities for Emery’s men. PSG welcomed the barrage on Neymar. When one player attracts that much attention, he has the ability to suck-in defenders before exposing them. Neymar was hounded by two-to-three white shirts all over the pitch, allowing him to play passes like this:</p>
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<p id="5gp3Zk">Berchiche’s quick movement off the ball is important here. He knows he’s not a perceived threat relative to someone like Neymar, and fully knows that Nacho and Modric will both hedge off him to contain any Neymar danger. Casemiro is already too central to cover the flank. Neymar hits Berchiche (with a lucky bounce), and Real Madrid get exposed. If you’re PSG, it’s hard to extract many positive individual performances, but the reality is, Neymar’s presence alone completely changes Real Madrid’s defensive structure and how much they can gamble.</p>
<p id="5UANhp">We often talk about the over-reliance that certain clubs have on certain players. Maybe PSG’s over-reliance on Neymar doesn’t get talked about enough. Over-reliance itself, is not always a bad thing. When you have generational unicorns, you would be crazy not to lean your shoulder on them. But problems arise when other stars in your team aren’t stepping up. Kylian Mbappe is young. He’s great. His ceiling is absurd. He’s also cooled... for now. PSG looks to get the ball up to Neymar quickly and often — watching him do his thing in the process. When Neymar is the only one who can create consistently, you run into problems like this, where the team is stagnant, and Neymar gets dispossessed while you face a counter semi-paralyzed:</p>
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<figcaption>PSG’s emphasis on getting the ball to Neymar. <a href="https://twitter.com/11tegen11/status/9638939891">Chart via 11Tegen11</a>
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<p id="NaaJxD">Neymar had the third most touches on the field. The only two who saw the ball more were Kroos and Alves. PSG will find Neymar as an outlet continually — as soon as they put their heads up. How Real Madrid defends him will set the dominoes either way. </p>
<p id="4eVwOS">Neymar, how Real Madrid react to him, and how PSG use him is one of many wrinkles we can dissect from the first leg. There are many more key points and angles to choose from.</p>
<p id="yLeTpV">Let’s start with the most polarizing: Isco and Casemiro.</p>
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<h3 id="xq88G6"><strong>Isco’s contributions</strong></h3>
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<p id="KVugdK">Isco was possessed in the first leg. He ran himself into the ground, in the best way possible. Real Madrid pressed PSG high early, and no one did it more exemplary than Isco:</p>
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<p id="1pk3F1">In the span of about six seconds, Isco hounds Kimpembe, Berchiche, and Lo Celso — all while his teammates back him up by cutting off passing lanes. Isco wins a corner. The Bernabeu lives for shit like this. It sets the tone. It’s contagious. </p>
<p id="WP1oic">We often emphasize Isco’s IQ without the ball. It’s high. He understands where to be defensively, and the noise that criticizes him in the diamond is mostly directed to the schematic use of him, without faulting who he is as a player. A lot of the things he did defensively in the first leg will go unnoticed, but it shouldn’t:</p>
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<p id="QZl068">Offensively, Isco was fluid and direct. Until he ran out of gas and was taken off in the second half, he completed just north of 96% of his passes. He may not be as gung-ho and quick as Bale or Asensio, but what he does, he does it at an elite level on his day. There is room for him.</p>
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<h3 id="Bae2KC"><strong>The Casemiro Rollercoaster </strong></h3>
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<p id="Bkkdn5">How good Casemiro is will always make him an enigma when trying to explain all the bad things he does. Over and over again, his interventions are key. Over the course of 90 minutes on Wednesday, not a single player on the field made as many tackles (seven) or interceptions (five) as him. Some of his challenges on the ‘<em>thank you and God bless you</em>’ scale were great:</p>
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<p id="8n8cPn">One trait stands out in the above sequences apart from good positioning and awareness: strength. There was a moment in the first half, after dispossessing Neymar, where Casemiro received a pass deep in Real Madrid’s half, and somehow plowed through a tight space on the touchline — bouncing up from challenges like a giant sky-dancer. It’s that strength that makes him an enigma. </p>
<p id="OoZNhX">There are moments when his durability can’t mask his technical shortcomings with the ball at his feet. Real Madrid sweat it out when Casemiro is the outlet coming out of the back:</p>
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<p id="0SwrRi">Again, it’s the moments where Casemiro doesn’t have the ball in those areas that makes him so important; and it’s the moments where he <em>does</em> have the ball in those areas that make him a liability at times. While his passing range has improved over the course of his Real Madrid career, he needs to be better with the ball in positions like this, where he has time and space to calculate the right pass:</p>
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<p id="8h9KKx">The passing kinks have been present in the whole team this season — not just Casemiro. But those who were giving the ball away similarly earlier this season (<a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/2017/11/7/16608924/real-madrids-defensive-gambles-have-been-costly">Kroos and Modric</a>), have normalized their play and have started protecting the ball better. Casemiro, and <span>Sergio Ramos</span>, have yet to find their range. Casemiro’s not the only player who needs some recalibration with his passing from important areas where the team should (theoretically) easily build an attack. Ramos has been off the mark coming out of the back too:</p>
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<div id="QFwDzS"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 44.607%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/nncyq" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
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<h3 id="IbyA2I"><strong>Emery’s take</strong></h3>
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<p id="cAB8UT">What was extracted most from the post-game presser, was easily the aforementioned quote from Emery about referees. This one got swept under the rug: “I think Lo Celso played a great game. And when Meunier came on we dominated on the right flank.” </p>
<p id="C9iGYk">‘Dominate’ is a strange choice of wording — probably something used in the heat of the moment from a man searching for a rope to pull himself out of a whirlpool. Lo Celo’s situation is what it is — he’s playing in an unnaturally deep role (for him) while Motta misses games. When PSG’s team was getting overrun in transition late, he was having difficulty coping as an anchor. Rabiot, one of his support pieces, lost possession <strong>seven</strong> times — far and away the highest mark by any player on the field. On the flanks, PSG looked to Neymar so much they missed several opportunities to take advantage of Marcelo’s defensive myopia. Emery’s not off the mark if he implied they did give Marcelo problems, though.</p>
<p id="yjpvFC">Being in the stadium has pros and cons (yes, there are disadvantages in watching a 3-1 win over PSG at the Bernabeu amid a frenzied atmosphere. You don’t see a single replay, and you can barely hear the referee’s whistle, and in some cases, you can’t hear it at all). One of the advantages: You see every little nut and bolt that you don’t see on camera. One such nut or bolt: Marcelo rarely has an idea of the space that’s open, or the runs being made in-behind him. Either that, or he’s expecting coverage on every single possession to conserve his energy going forward. </p>
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<div id="jzgGnL"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 44.1345%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/4yszb" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="6PtaR3">The problem here starts when Alves makes a cutting run behind Marcelo freely. Marcelo is neither tracking Alves here, nor cutting off the passing lane to him while Casemiro is occupied by Mbappe the moment the pass is made. </p>
<p id="Dq1X1k">This one, is less subtle (though, after giving the ball away and jogging bag, he does put up his hand to apologize, just to make up for it):</p>
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<p id="vUqlkQ">Emery didn’t see the damage his team faced on the other end of the field, particularly post Alves-sub. PSG may have created danger from Neymar, but creating danger and creating clear-cut chances are two different things, any by the end of the night, Real Madrid’s xG was 2.16, compared to PSG’s .95. Bale, Asensio, Marcelo, and Kroos picked Emery’s dominant flank apart. Marcelo had his best offensive game of the season, and when he’s like this, he’s virtually unplayable. </p>
<p id="qwhYQf">Asensio (rightfully) was lauded for his performance. Gareth Bale’s entrance was more subtle, but his presence changed the dynamic of Real Madrid’s build-up entirely. His off-ball runs with pace were perfect to exploit PSG’s high line late, and it was his pass that released Asensio on Real Madrid’s second goal. Asensio, meanwhile, was completely surgical with his directness, pace, decision-making, and execution. If Bale helped put the dagger into PSG, Asensio was the one who twisted it.</p>
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<p id="dsYJ3P">There’s still a lot of work to do. 90 minutes in Paris won’t go by quickly.</p>
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<h2 id="wxrJ76"><strong>Two Quick Observations</strong></h2>
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<p id="SK3AZm">Rapid-fire, a couple scattered thoughts.</p>
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<h3 id="HXle0P"><strong>Play on</strong></h3>
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<p id="nXNmKU">Can we fix this hole in our offside rule? Both Ronaldo and Modric should be allowed to get these:</p>
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<h3 id="5475Xh"><strong>Before and after Marcelo’s goal</strong></h3>
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<p id="HwZRZU">The build-up to Marcelo’s goal was peak Real Madrid. That’s the gear we’ve been asking for. The celebration encapsulated everyone’s feelings:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is it .. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marcelo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Marcelo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RealPSG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RealPSG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84_%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AF_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B3_%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ريال_مدريد_باريس_سان_جيرمان</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HalaMadrid?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HalaMadrid</a> <br> <a href="https://t.co/ZzfOLvHJcm">pic.twitter.com/ZzfOLvHJcm</a></p>— ابراهيم الشاهد (@alshahedl) <a href="https://twitter.com/alshahedl/status/963892686368509952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/CRPK9qKiW4">pic.twitter.com/CRPK9qKiW4</a></p>— Patrik Ström (@PatrikStroem) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrikStroem/status/964502526744817665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2018</a>
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https://www.managingmadrid.com/2018/2/16/17015408/analyzing-isco-and-casemiro-against-psgKiyan Sobhani2018-02-14T22:46:28+01:002018-02-14T22:46:28+01:00Immediate Reaction: Real Madrid 3 - 1 PSG
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<img alt="UEFA Champions League'Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain'" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uFnYEUizHyoAxwmBX7ciWv68R64=/1x0:4692x3127/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58696341/918305722.jpg.0.jpg" />
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<p>Just another day in the Champions League</p> <p id="R9SZfY"><a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/"><em>Real Madrid</em></a><em> defeat PSG 3-1 at the Bernabeu (Ronaldo x2, Marcelo; Rabiot). It was chaotic, it was nerve-wracking, and it was beautiful. Here’s our quick reaction to the match. Still to come: Player ratings, post-game podcast, and tactical review.</em></p>
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<p id="Sm2l87">A raucous, loud, and absolutely electric Bernabeu played host to a match that was circled on the calendar for a while now. Both teams have a lot at stake, and both absolutely <em>have</em> to progress to the next round. The pressure was on.</p>
<p id="ZKb8NC">Zidane rolled out his go-to lineup in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> knock out rounds -- a diamond with Isco roaming as an outlet, hovering in front of Kroos, Modric, and Casemiro. Gareth Bale, perhaps surprisingly, came off the bench. Zidane must’ve felt Bale’s pace would be useful in the second half if the game opens up a bit, and, fully knowing PSG would sit in a medium-low block and look to counter, having Isco to help crack a tight line is what Zidane opted for. </p>
<p id="QOSyOE">Much to our dismay, neither Bale nor Kurzawa started this match. But, for what it’s worth, Isco put in a phenomenal shift before running out of the gas around the hour mark. He pressed like a maniac, retained possession for Real Madrid, and was distributing the ball really well — especially when the team found themselves in tight spaces. </p>
<p id="HfLqCp">Real Madrid’s problems didn’t come in holding possession though. It was, as always, defending counters. Neymar flew up the pitch with the ball, and stopping him was laborious. It took two-to-three defenders to put him to a halt, and with Neymar’s ability to suck in defenders like that, he was able to find open outlets and spread Real Madrid’s defense uncomfortably thin.</p>
<p id="DOcKMl">One issue that manifested itself recurrently — Casemiro’s lack of technical ability with the ball. Yes, he made some key interventions in this game, but three times he was dispossessed in Real Madrid’s third, allowing PSG to to attack in a dangerous position with numerical advantage. His passing in transition also stifled a couple counter-attacks. To be sure, Marcelo also had a lot of positional kinks on his flank, where he failed to recognize the space and the runs behind him, but his pace was also important in keeping up with Mbappe on certain sequences. </p>
<p id="nmm6mA">Zidane rolling the dice by bringing Bale off the bench is hard to argue with, given the result. His presence completely changed the dynamic of the team in the second half. He started making dangerous off-ball runs, and his pace allowed him to get to most outlet passes; while his quick direct play was huge in picking apart PSG’s high line in the second half. When Asensio and Lucas came on for Casemiro and Isco shortly after, Real Madrid had all kinds of pace to use to take advantage of PSG’s increasingly chaotic defense in transition.</p>
<p id="fDEFar">This was a good, nay, <em>great</em> result. It could have easily ended in a loss if Real Madrid didn’t get some luck with PSG’s poor finishing, or if <span>Keylor Navas</span> didn’t step up in huge fashion. What a rollercoaster.</p>
<p id="M2wXst">We’ll break this down more in the coming hours.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2018/2/14/17013770/immediate-reaction-real-madrid-3-1-psgKiyan Sobhani2018-02-13T19:05:58+01:002018-02-13T19:05:58+01:00The State of Real Madrid And PSG Heading Into the Biggest Fixture of the Season for Both Teams
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<img alt="Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uCOBCG12oSklLYW6ubX1D3cQ3-g=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58679013/493645640.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Looking at Wednesday’s colossal clash from all angles: Mental state of both teams, weaknesses, strengths, tactical strategies, and more</p> <p id="knQSB2"><em>These observations — where I look at </em><a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/"><em><strong>Real Madrid</strong></em></a><em>’s history, its players on loan, Castilla, tactical tidbits, and other relevant thoughts -- are now a regular weekly thing. All previous editions can be found </em><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/kiyans-observations"><em><strong>here</strong></em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="uvQ2nI">On Wednesday, two behemoths of European football square up against each other in the first of two legs — in a tie that will make-or-break someone’s season. <a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid</a> and PSG have eerily similar feelings towards this game, as discussed extensively on <a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/2018/2/12/17001994/managing-madrid-podcast-psg-preview-with-jonathan-johnson">this week’s Managing Madrid Podcast with Jonathan Johnson</a>, and it will be fascinating to see how either team will enter both legs. What schemes will be implemented? How will they react to one another? How will they deal with their dips in form? Which team will raise their game the most? <em>Which team will turn up their gear high enough to mask the mistakes they continually make this season?</em></p>
<p id="WiOl2V">Nerves may be high in Madrid among press and fans, but they’ve risen symmetrically in Paris. Where Real Madrid rock concerns with their overall form this season; among PSG circles, some are sweating the idea that Real Madrid has finally woken up, winning three-of-their-four La Liga matches, and outscoring opponents 18-6 along the way. That may be a low bar, relative to a team like Real Madrid -- but these things have an impact psychologically, to be sure. PSG has a lot to prove, and they’re eager to shake off their stigma when it comes to dealing with high-stake European clashes. Mental barriers can be tough to overcome, as we’ve seen with Atletico Madrid’s recurring collapses against Real Madrid in Europe over the years.</p>
<p id="DccRpW">There is an aura about PSG this season that they’ve been flying — cruising past their opponents and blitzing everyone in their path while their front-three of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Edison Cavani transcend the other mortals in the universe. It’s not unreasonable to state this, but it’s also been overstated. PSG are really good, but there are caveats peppered into their season. </p>
<p id="aTJyOi">Vulnerabilities in Emery’s scheme manifest themselves when the team gets poked — or in the cases of Bayern and Lyon, when they get stabbed. Against a new-look Bayern team, shortly after Jupp Heynckes took over from <span>Carlo Ancelotti</span>, Bayern ceded possession, lined-up in a low block, and snuffed out space for Neymar and Mbappe to run into. Offensively, Bayern slung back with packed flanks, and with extra men in midfield, overran the positionally lost Julian Draxler. </p>
<p id="S3Dnsk">Zidane may take a page out of Heyncke’s blueprint, but setting up a low block in similar fashion — or to that degree, at least — won’t be likely. Edison Cavani <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfGNRrXFYsO/?taken-by=managingmadrid">hinted that PSG will play a counter-attacking scheme at the Bernabeu</a>, and with the engines that Real Madrid boast in midfield, a possession-based plan may emerge organically. If that happens, implementing an efficient press is crucial. </p>
<p id="nsWJuU">This PSG team gets unnerved when the opposition breathes down their neck as they attempt to bring the ball out of the back. The <em>Draxler-in-midfield</em> experiment may have come to an end, unfortunately for Real Madrid fans, but their midfield still has issues of mispositioned players. Without Thiago Motta, Emery has been forced to play players like Giovanni Lo Celso in deeper positions. Against Lyon, Lo Celso (a talented player, to be sure, but one suited to play as a playmaker while defensively-astute players help share the workload in midfield) struggled finding outlets when Lyon pressed high up the pitch. Bruno Genesio’s men made it a point to <em>not</em> allow Paris to cross the half-way line in any significant position to carve out a key pass. If Lo Celso found Rabiot, Veratti, Kurzawa, or Alves with a pass, they were either hounded quickly, or would look up to see every vertical passing lane blocked. If Zidane opts to hedge the team higher to control play rather than sit back and counter, Genesio’s blueprint may be more appealing than Heyncke’s.</p>
<p id="459ran">This is where Real Madrid need to hit another gear that we haven’t seen since the Spanish Super Cup. Amid a season of turmoil, two main things have abandoned them: 1) their ability to read passing lanes; and 2) their ability to press efficiently. Both of these traits were strong suits of Zidane’s team during the end-of-season <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> blitz, and peaked to an incredible level during the SuperCups. Inexplicably, we haven’t seen that version of Real Madrid consistently over the course of the 2017/18 season. The team has, for large stretches of their slumps against a whole slew of opponents, been in a dangerous grey area — when possession is lost, the team is neither in a position to counter-press nor are they reading passing lanes. When you’re neither here nor there, you’re actually holding up a sign inviting opponents to carve you unapologetically. </p>
<p id="u18s1H">Moments like this, where Real Madrid aren’t on the same page without the ball, will give a clear outlet in open water for Neymar, Di Maria, and Mbappe to swim into:</p>
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<p id="rP5zEZ">Notice: Isco floating. A problem we’ve noted continually in the past is that Isco himself, in a vacuum, fabulous, world-class player and all, is not a problem. In wonky schemes though, his presence on any given defensive sequence is shifty. The team guesses where he’ll be, and with that kind of undefined role, the system collapses. Casemiro is tracking his marker, but wanes on his aggressiveness as he notices Isco coming over from a deep position. This means his man is an open outlet for Celta to channel through as an escape route. Once the ball goes there, Kroos doesn’t hedge back to close the second outlet, and Casemiro is still half-pressing his man along with Isco. Boom. Counter ensues. The rest of the team — the ones remaining behind the ball — are already back-peddling. </p>
<p id="iwxPe4">The BBC will get a lot of criticism game-in game-out — particularly a certain Frenchman who’s been rightfully scolded for being defanged in front of goal. But, collectively, they are a much better pressing trio than PSG’s front three. We have sample size to back this. If Real Madrid fans take any comfort in the Sociedad win, it’s finally seeing some really good pressing in the first half. </p>
<p id="oC9qMT">The following three sequences all came in the first eight minutes of the match. It was important in setting the tone:</p>
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<p id="alYEWY"><span>Gareth Bale</span> didn’t start this match, and he’s one of the most intelligent off-ball players Real Madrid has. It was impressive there wasn’t a drop-off in Real Madrid’s press here without him. Vazquez, Ronaldo, Benzema, Modric, Kroos, and Asensio (who’s made leaps defensively over the course of his young Real Madrid career) were all fantastic and in-sync as <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/real-sociedad">Real Sociedad</a> recycled possession. Zidane’s front six snuffed passing lanes as they simultaneously pressured Sociedad’s ball-carriers. Caveat: Real Sociedad is a mess this season, etc. </p>
<p id="rI5tdE">Yet, this kind of pressing will put pressure on even the most elite distributors. Heck, we even saw signs of a counter-press on Saturday:</p>
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<p id="vIjD2b">The ball was not retained here, but the awareness from every Real Madrid shirt in understanding the importance of winning the ball back immediately after it was lost is exactly what’s needed on Wednesday and beyond. PSG are scary good in transition, while Real Madrid have generally been scary bad defending in transition. “To play against Neymar, there is no magic formula,” Carvajal said in the build-up to Wednesday’s clash. ”You just hope he doesn’t have his day. I hope he doesn’t have his day on Wednesday.” Limiting PSG’s chances of getting in the final-third needs to be a point of emphasis if counter-attacking isn’t an option. If you can’t defend, or struggle (surely) defending the likes of Neymar, mask it by holding the ball instead.</p>
<p id="nrJYhh">Motta’s absence for PSG is problematic for them. It leaves dominoes that Emery would’ve liked to have avoided. If Lo Celso doesn’t play as the anchor, Unai may opt to slide in newly acquired Lassana Diarra. Diarra, for what it’s worth, is still a very good player, even at this stage of his career — but he lacks familiarity with the team. </p>
<p id="GdrNkY">Another issue for Emery is Kurzawa’s place as left back. If he starts there over Berchiche, Real Madrid will be facing a defensive liability on that flank. Bale’s presence as a two-way winger is key here. He’ll have space to exploit in-behind Kurzawa. Neymar showed last season with Barcelona that he’s very good defensively, but Emery won’t want to tie down the Brazilian with left-back coverage, meaning PSG could be spread thin covering for Kurzawa if they hedge Thiago Silva, or one of Rabiot / Veratti / Lo Celso / Lass over to double-up on the flanks. </p>
<p id="We2Lls">Somehow, Real Madrid may actually dodge a bullet if Emery fields Mbappe, Cavani, and Neymar together. It’s almost blasphemous to state it, but Kylian has cooled (and Cavani will be coming back from an injury); while Di Maria has caught fire. At any rate, Angelito will be dangerous off the bench, but Real Madrid fans would cautiously prefer that than to see him start up front, or even worse, as a two-way engine in central midfield. He can play that role, as Madridistas know, where Draxler couldn’t. </p>
<p id="847NOW">One thing to keep an eye on: Areola’s ability to deal with long-range bombs. In general, he struggles to stay in the conversation among the best goalkeepers in the world — and among the elite European teams, he’s one of the most unreliable. It would be worth giving the green-light to Casemiro, Bale, Ronaldo, Modric, and others to test Areola as often as possible. If Areola is not off his line, a stinger from 30 or 40 yards could still serve up a juicy, serendipitous rebound. </p>
<p id="YEM8cG">None of these points are sure indicators of how the match will unfold. As always, predicting these events is almost impossible. Analyzing strengths and weaknesses of both teams are one thing, but the intangibles — confidence, morale, dealing with psychological barriers of past precedence — are hard to decipher. No one knows if Real Madrid will finally hit that gear we’ve been waiting for them to hit, or if it will all just encapsulate the horror-show of a season and unravel in their faces. On the flipside, PSG’s mental state isn’t at its peak, and demons of past failures are still on the back-burner, according to those around the club. As fascinating as it will be for neutrals, those invested in either party will (probably) be in the fetal position for 180 minutes.</p>
<p id="VziJyb">“It’s not a final for me. It’s a Champions League match,” Zidane said in the pre-match pressers on Tuesday.</p>
<p id="Lli0BF">”We’ve got two legs and what we have to do is go out and play well. The rest I’m not too worried about.</p>
<p id="sFCpv2">”We’ve got no pressure. We’re happy to play these games.</p>
<p id="mw3UcA">”People want to see a good game and you’d have to ask PSG if they’re feeling any pressure.”</p>
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https://www.managingmadrid.com/2018/2/13/17003476/the-state-of-real-madrid-and-psg-heading-into-the-biggest-fixture-of-the-season-for-both-teamsKiyan Sobhani2018-02-13T15:00:08+01:002018-02-13T15:00:08+01:00Will The PSG-Madrid Clash See A Changing Of The Guard Or The Maintenance Of The Old European Regime?
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<img alt="FBL-ESP-LIGA-REALMADRID-BARCELONA" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0Q6l7Q4W0NUR8qgO8J5bnSKRn7M=/0x0:2458x1639/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58674501/457843958.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Neymar and PSG have a chance to upend a sustained period of Real Madrid-Ronaldo dominance.</p> <p id="suW8MB">The Champions League fortunes of <a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid</a> and Paris St-Germain have differed greatly in recent reasons. The All Whites have taken on the form of an unstoppable colossus, rampaging its way to three Champions League titles in the past four seasons and seven consecutive semifinal appearances since 2011. They are the undoubted kings of Europe and the team with nothing to left to prove. PSG are the exact opposite; a team still looking to stake their place with the elite of the elite.</p>
<p id="Y9eAb8">PSG’s quest began with the Qatari takeover in 2011, when the French outfit spent a scarcely believable <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-paris-saint-germain/alletransfers/verein/583">£841.51 million in transfer fees</a> over the next six years. They acquired the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Javier Pastore, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Edinson Cavani, Neymar Jr., and Kylian Mbappe. Yet, despite this massive outlay, PSG have stumbled at every Champions League roadblock since their ambitious project began. They have fallen to <a href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/">Barcelona</a> three times since 2012/13 and have never managed to make it past the quarterfinals. In almost symbolic fashion, the old European guard has worked relentlessly to keep the rising star in France from achieving its full potential.</p>
<p id="UlmrbF">Now, in the round of 16 of the 2017/18 edition of the Champions League, the ultimate of the old European footballing powers stands in the way of the persistent outsiders. While there would still be much work to be done following a victory, a defeat of the back-to-back, twelve-time defending Champions, could provide PSG with enough momentum to create a power shift and spark a new dynasty in Europe.</p>
<p id="MNkOOL">On an individual level, this potential power shift is reflected in the upcoming duel between Neymar and <span>Cristiano Ronaldo</span> and the similarities between the former and the older version of the latter. Like the Ronnie of old, Neymar hangs about in the left half space, is flashy, agile, fast, cocky, and lethal in front of goal. Just recently, the Brazilian superstar remarked, “<a href="https://as.com/futbol/2018/01/27/internacional/1517088002_243372.html">Ronaldo is the mirror in which I view myself</a>.”</p>
<div id="e0GjHL"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CyVA1ED08xI?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="DlGBbL">But it’s clear that Neymar is talking about a version of CR7 that no longer really exists, creating a perfect narrative opening for Ronaldo to pass the torch to a younger version of himself, thus representing the passage from old to young. Such a victory for Neymar, when combined with Champions League glory, should be enough to finally break the Cristiano-Lionel duopoly over the Ballon d’Or and usher in a new age for European football on that front.</p>
<p id="UG6PEM">Of course, none of the above will be easy. Despite Ronaldo’s evident statistical decline in La Liga, he has managed to warp into a dimension where time has stalled and his peak remains intact when playing in the UCL. Since 2012/13, CR7 has accumulated 67 goals in the competition, has broken basically every single Champions League scoring record possible, and has accrued so many knockout goals that the gap between him and the rest has become embarrassing.</p>
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<p id="aIjXXS">Even his creativity and dribbling stats have avoided the steady drop-off that is so clearly present in La Liga, demonstrating his relentless battle against father time in his favorite competition.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rZFjO82DL6AabC6kFs2lu4etzGY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10215603/Screen_Shot_2018_02_13_at_3.04.17_AM.png">
<cite><a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Players/5583/History/Cristiano-Ronaldo">whoscored.com</a></cite>
<figcaption>Ronaldo shows a clear & steady statistical decline in La Liga.</figcaption>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bQBAHLNkaUikboDQJOTYbtNbEjc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10215605/Screen_Shot_2018_02_13_at_3.05.14_AM.png">
<cite><a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Players/5583/History/Cristiano-Ronaldo">whoscored.com</a></cite>
<figcaption>Ronaldo’s statistical output has been more consistent & resistant to decline across UCL seasons when compared to his league seasons.</figcaption>
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<p id="38pmM5">These statistical representations of Ronaldo’s stubborn greatness, combined with Real’s star quality, pedigree, and the desperation that comes from losing the league in November, means that Neymar and PSG’s task will not be easy. Both Real Madrid and Ronaldo have continually demonstrated an ability to stave off bad form, age-induced decline, and world class opponents to produce magical Champions League moments. But, if there ever was a time when the stage was perfectly set for regime change... that moment would be now...</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2018/2/13/17007052/will-the-psg-real-madrid-clash-see-a-changing-of-guard-or-the-maintenance-of-the-old-european-regimeOm Arvind2018-02-12T00:05:58+01:002018-02-12T00:05:58+01:00Managing Madrid Podcast: PSG Preview With Jonathan Johnson
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<img alt="Real Madrid CF v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_d9b37PQ6SJGC6HYainEy3qOtgU=/0x0:2762x1841/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58657055/495914406.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Kiyan Sobhani is joined by Jonathan Johnson of ESPNFC to preview the PSG match</p> <p id="CG6lpM">On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Jonathan Johnson (ESPNFC) discussed: </p>
<ul>
<li id="i1gFFp">PSG’s mood / morale / feeling going into this match</li>
<li id="d5Y9Xe">The tests PSG have faced this season, and how they’ve coped with them</li>
<li id="TCcfal">Emery’s tactics heading into this match</li>
<li id="3Ju7hI">PSG’s weaknesses</li>
<li id="nWdXfB">Di Maria’s role heading into this game, particularly based on his recent form and health / form concerns of Mbappe and Cavani</li>
<li id="eXtBYm">Motta’s health concerns, and how PSG will look without him</li>
<li id="nvrsLD">Areola dealing with long shots</li>
<li id="18XWaw">Reactions by the board if PSG lose the tie</li>
<li id="InC06W">
<a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid</a>’s formation against PSG, and things to take away from the win against Sociedad</li>
</ul>
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<div id="XpVxkR"><iframe src="https://percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=636315&episodeId=10586853&referrer=twitter" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 180px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p id="et5fmv">Managing Madrid is a hub for all Madridistas with updated news, op-eds, tactical analyses, artwork, and of course, podcasts. It also serves as a means for <a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/"><strong>Real Madrid</strong></a> fans to connect and discuss the team. We would like your support so that we can continue to produce podcasts for you.</p>
<p id="LppZyY">The site is run by a small team that works tirelessly around the clock to make it into what it is today. Your contributions will allow us to continue to have a real and full-time presence in keeping this website, and it’s podcasts, going.</p>
<p id="ecWvxv"><strong>Hosts this week:</strong></p>
<p id="NetBwa">Kiyan Sobhani (<a href="https://twitter.com/KiyanSo"><strong>@KiyanSo</strong></a>)</p>
<p id="JvveEI">Jonathan Johnson (<a href="https://twitter.com/Jon_LeGossip"><strong>@Jon_LeGossip</strong></a>)</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2018/2/12/17001994/managing-madrid-podcast-psg-preview-with-jonathan-johnsonKiyan Sobhani2015-10-22T08:36:03+02:002015-10-22T08:36:03+02:00PSG vs Real Madrid: Tactical review
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A full in-depth analysis of Rafa's tactical decisions in Madrid's 0-0 draw with PSG.</p> <h4>Overall Tactical Impression</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">Within the first 10 minutes of the match Benitez’s plan became clear. Madrid started off in a 4-4-2 to stay compact and create quick transitions. This defensive approach was more proactive then you would think as Madrid employed an intensive pressing game that looked to put the Whites on the front foot. However, this style made it hard for Madrid to create any real openings when in possession of the ball and there were also problems with the execution of several counters. Overall this was a decent result for Benitez as he was without several starters and was playing away from home against a world-class side in PSG.</p>
<h4>In-depth analysis of defensive shape and tactics</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though Los Blancos have kept an amazing number of clean sheets in La Liga, this was the first time I saw the Madrid defense actually reach the expectations that everyone placed on them when Benitez took charge. Playing against an assortment of world-class attackers, Madrid’s defensive teamwork (for the most part) easily outplayed Ibrahimovic and co.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were three key facets to Madrid’s defensive game and the first and most important was their pressing. It was orchestrated impressively by the central midfielders in Kroos and Casemiro, as both continually stepped out to challenge the PSG midfielders as soon as the ball entered the Madrid half. The wide midfielders Isco and Vazquez joined the CM’s to create a two-pronged press on each half of the pitch. With the center congested, PSG forced the ball out wide. This is where Madrid’s second stage of defensive organization came into play</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the ball was punted wide Madrid quickly formed a low block with their midfielders (even Jese dropped into this wall from time to time). This quick re-organization after a frantic press forced PSG to recycle possession. Eventually they had to go back out wide as any ball attempted through the center of the pitch was easily intercepted by the likes of Kroos and Casemiro. By the time PSG sent the ball wide again, Isco and Vazquez had tracked back to help their fullbacks and close out almost all attacking options for PSG. This level of organization quickly prompted Di Maria to float long balls to Cavani and Ibrahimovic, but this was dealt with easily by Madrid’s third stage of defensive adeptness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To deal with Di Maria’s decision to go route-one in the first half, Madrid’s back line pushed up together to continually catch PSG’s forwards offside. In all they managed this 7 times and completely eliminated Di Maria’s ability to make a difference. Madrid even had the confidence to play an effective offside trap on the edge of their box and managed to catch out Javier Pastore in a crucial moment that could have led to Madrid conceding.</p>
<h4>Negatives</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">For all Madrid’s defensive nous, there was a significant drop in defensive quality past the hour mark. The press almost completely disappeared (most likely due to tiredness) and Madrid were left open to PSG’s attacks. Suddenly the Parisians had ample time to find players and even play through the middle at times. Modric was brought on to try to remedy this and give Madrid the control of the match, but this shifted the shape to a 4-3-3 and made it harder for Madrid to employ their previous defensive tactics.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In addition there was some defensive weakness created by Marcelo as he was rarely in line with his other three teammates and was positionally too high up even when he had time to get back. Ramos continually had to cover for him and was absolutely clutch in the last 25 minutes of the match.</p>
<h4>In-depth analysis of offensive shape and tactics</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">Benitez’s defensive decisions molded the way Madrid were going to attack. The whole match Real looked to employ the fastest transitions possible by exploiting the spaces left behind by Maxwell and (especially) Aurier. The press was key to this as it allowed Madrid to face a misbalanced PSG defense with several two vs one situations. In addition, Ronaldo’s position as the striker kept the PSG midfield and center backs tight to him, allowing the likes of Jese and Vazquez to go one on one with their markers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Along with the press, the other facet to Madrid’s attacking style was high fluidity between the likes of Vazquez, Jese, Isco, and Ronaldo. They switched positions frantically to destabilize PSG’s defensive shape and create spaces to play teammates into. Once a man was released into the danger area, they looked for Ronaldo whose effective movement was supposed to lead to a shot on goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tactically, this is exactly what you want to do when playing a counterattacking game and Benitez has to receive a ton of credit for thinking this match out to the last detail. But there were serious problems with execution.</p>
<h4>Negatives</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">What really hurt Madrid was their sloppy offensive play. Often times, there would be an attacker free only for someone to play a ball straight to a PSG defender. If the ball wasn’t going straight to the opposition, the passes fell behind players or just didn’t have the right pace or spin on them. This gave Thiago Silva and Marquinhos just the extra second they needed to mark Ronaldo and seriously reduce the chance of a cross creating any significant danger.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is also the fact that the approach may have been too simplistic at times. Yes Benitez was playing a counterattacking game, but Madrid had several opportunities where they were on the edge of the box and had no inventive way of breaking PSG down. The ball was shifted wide for the predictable cross with only Ronaldo in the box. Marcelo did a better job in creating something more with his fantastic footwork, but it in the end his missiles were constantly deflected away. Ronaldo for his part did get three half chances in the game, but in the end Madrid didn’t do enough to say they deserved a goal.</p>
<h4>Final Takeaways</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">I really liked the fact that there was some real defensive improvements this match. It looks like Madrid are finally ready to take the big step where they no longer have to rely on Navas to bail them out every game. But to help them do that, Madrid’s pressing plan needs to be sorted out. It’s worked a treat for Madrid every time they have used it, but today it was unsustainable. This is partly because only two players were in charge for each side of the pitch and also because such a strategy is particularly tiring. Benitez needs to work on balancing and expanding his pressing game especially if he sees it as key to his defensive and offensive plans.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Which leads me to my final point. Over the course of 10 games Madrid have played I have gotten a solid idea of what Benitez is trying to do (especially against the big sides). He is looking to use defensive organization as the base for his game plan and utilize pressing and solid counterattacking theory to create chances for his side. While Madrid still haven’t fully grasped his methods, it is clear that Benitez’s plans have not really worked in creating a multitude of chances for Madrid. Rafa must diversify his ideas and be bolder in changing Madrid to a more attacking and creative mindset when trying to win the game in the last 20-30 minutes.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But aside from this, I think we must give credit to a coach that has been under immense pressure from day one and has managed to stay undefeated for 10 games.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Stats taken from whoscored.com)</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2015/10/22/9587428/psg-real-madrid-tactical-reviewOm Arvind2015-10-21T23:30:01+02:002015-10-21T23:30:01+02:00Match review (0-0)
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<p>Madrid deserved more throughout the first half but ended up sitting back and holding for the draw.</p> <p>It's quite hard to blame Benítez for backing down his team hoping to get a draw once they couldn't score during the first half. Real Madrid were missing 5 starters today -- though Modric entered the game later -- and PSG are a very solid team playing at home. After all, if Madrid manage to beat PSG at the Bernabéu two weeks from now, they will be the heavy favorites to win the Group, and that was the first and main target when the Champions League started.</p>
<p>Either way, Real Madrid played well enough to collect all three points tonight, at least throughout the first half. Kroos completely dominated the game -- what an astonishing performance by the German -- alongside Casemiro and that gave Jesé and <span>Cristiano Ronaldo</span> some good scoring chances. As always, Marcelo's creativity was a key factor for Real's offensive line too. Unluckily enough, Isco and Lucas Vázquez couldn't match the quality of their teammates' performances and that ended up hurting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid's</a> possibilities as Los Blancos were not dangerous enough through the right flank.</p>
<p>Isco hasn't been himself since Benítez took over and the manager needs to find an answer as soon as possible. James will be back with the squad soon but Isco should still be an important player in Real Madrid's rotation as he definitely has the quality to create several opportunities and almost win a game on his own.</p>
<p>The second half was entirely different. Jesé and Isco got tired, Benítez took them off and replaced them with Cheryshev and Modric. Real ended up sitting back and waiting for some counterattacking chances to appear. PSG never created much danger so it was a comfortable scenario for Los Blancos. Still, they had proven they were good enough to control the game and maybe earn the three points, so it seems reasonable to feel frustrated at the team's attitude during the last 45 minutes of the game.</p>
<p>Madrid will most likely recover Benzema, Bale and James for the return game against PSG, so Benítez has every reason to be satisfied with this draw. Nonetheless, Real Madrid wasted a good opportunity to earn a convincing, statement win at the Parc des Princes. This PSG team could only control the tempo of the game once Madrid sat back and even then they weren't as dangerous as they should've been. Ibrahimovic and Co. will have to play much better if they want to win at the Bernabéu.</p>
<p>Benítez and his men will play away against Celta de Vigo this Saturday and that will also be a good chance for Madrid to prove their worth. With Jesé, Kroos and Marcelo playing the way they did tonight, Real should have enough tools to dismantle Celta.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2015/10/21/9587144/psg-vs-real-madrid-champions-league-2015-2016-match-reviewLucas Navarrete2015-10-21T22:43:15+02:002015-10-21T22:43:15+02:00PSG 0-0 Real Madrid: Initial reactions
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<div>I'm going to test your memory here. Who remembers Miguel Palanca? In December 2008, Real Madrid traveled to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona in a Clasico without nearly their entire A-team. It was a night so dark, that Royston Drenthe was one of the main threats the team had at its disposal. Palanca - a player who later made a living playing in Australia and various Spanish minnows - came on as a substitute.<br><br>The depletion of tonight's squad due to injuries reminded me of that match. And with that, here are four quick points to take away from tonight's draw in Paris.</div>
<ol>
<li><span><b>This was a really impressive performance from Real Madrid</b>. Perfect? No. But impressive. A quick glance at the starting eleven prior to kick-off and you could somewhat predict what kind of match it was going to be. Real Madrid were to play a defensively compact match while having limited opportunities in attack. Everyone in the white shirts fought valiantly though, and Real Madrid created many opportunities - proving to be the more dangerous side as the game progressed. Telling stat: At one point in the first half PSG had 65% possession - a number which regressed to 50% later in the half. Real Madrid grew.<br><br>Not that possession is that conducive to results these days, but considering Modric was out for most of the game, Real Madrid held the ball better than expected.<br><br></span></li>
<li> <b style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Marcelo</b><span> - the eternal enigma, the player who will never change. In a match limited with flair in the attacking third, Marcelo is a key player who can create opportunities galore from the left wing. His flicks were eye-candy, and his crossing and dribbling from the left flank was giving Di Maria and Aurier all kinds of headaches. Defensively though, his brain-farts continue to be worrisome - always gambling in situations that concede chances. When I saw Lucas Moura come on to the pitch, I immediately knew Marcelo was going to struggle keeping him in front of him - which turned out to be true. You know who is the anti-Marcelo? Varane. Raphael freakin' Varane. Never lunging into challenges, eye always on the ball, staunch, composed. Need I go on? Varane was a monster tonight.</span><br><br> </li>
<li><span>These are the matches where you really realize the good Rafa brings to the table. This was, in truth, my favorite Rafa Benitez game thus far. It's these games that really test the resolve of the squad, and, <b>Rafa had the team so disciplined</b> in one of the toughest matches of the season. Well done. The defense truly is at an elite level. Can you sit through a season of low-scoring matches if it means Real Madrid's defense comes out on top in May? Rhetorical question.<br><br></span></li>
<li><span><b>Aurier</b>. If you think he's fast in real life, try playing with him in FIFA. He's unstoppable. </span></li>
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https://www.managingmadrid.com/2015/10/21/9586828/psg-0-0-real-madrid-reactionsKiyan Sobhani