Real Madrid: no change in the rules of the game without a crossover

In the first few days, Real Madrid had difficulty making and concretizing chances. He played against teams that closed well, such as Mallorca, with whom he drew, or Valladolid, with whom he won 3-0 but against whom he had difficulty scoring the first. And he had to play with a negative scoreboard against Las Palmas and Espanyol.

Finding loopholes was not easy. A lot of Long property plays looking for a place to get through defenses. But moving the ball from side to side requires more touches, which makes it easier for defenders, moving in a block, to swing. They are mostly safe passes, from one player to another until he reaches the other side, slowing down blood circulation and without breaks.

The amazing fact offered by Opta that reinforces this idea is that Ancelotti’s team He is only the ninth in the Liga with the most leaked passes(11), A far cry from Barcelona 27. On the other hand, according to comparison data via Wescott, the He made long passes in the previous season (40.21 on average compared to 37 in this cycle) and, Now, he makes more passes in the attack zone (60,92 against 73). He also makes more passes in the opponent’s field. It is a general overview, but it can be roughly translated into that Tap and press as soon as you get closer to the corresponding area but without being completely vertical.

But let’s go a little further.

Let’s join everything that has been revealed so far for some of the mentioned match cases that serve to visualize something that repeats. For example, in the first Against Mallorca, There are still no goals on the scoreboard. Long possession (98 seconds), 34 touches and 32 passes, many of which are on the opponent’s field. But do not change the rules of the game. Just a few intermediate and horizontal passes.

Against Valladolid, Something similar. Even with a zero draw and no obvious chances. In this case, there are 76 seconds of possession, with 25 touches and 20 passes, the vast majority of short and very flat distances. There is nothing penetrating. And do not change the orientation.

On the third day, Before the palm, With the result repeated against a tonic. Here is an example of a shorter sequence but one that demonstrates well that trading is predictable and shallow.

One more, Against Espanyol. On this occasion, Madrid had a good first half, with more pace in the match. Instead, his rival took the initiative. In this case, it was the connections (dotted line) that made the ball advance vertically.

These are just a few Examples of the predictability of the White Game begin in this league, Where Some timely game changer was missed He may be able to cancel the construction of a block, even if it is for a few seconds. Enough is enough To find the back gap that gives the opportunity to create a Punkin.

This was where Toni Kroos’s vision of the game and the millimeter pass felt. The German, always leaning to the left side at the exit of the ball, Use the resource of changing the direction towards the area where Valverde or Carvajal appeared in turn. Sometimes he worked to decongest their area, but in many others to break the spider web of a closed competitor.

This type of movement almost completely disappeared in Madrid after the retirement of cross. In order to conduct a brief analysis, it is necessary Define the two areas well: One to start the pass and one to receive the pass. That is, the passage from the Cruz district to the Carvajal / Valverde district. We have to take into account that there are changes in the game that have not been collected because we have identified two specific areas and the crossover will certainly give similar passes, but they are outside those coordinates. Some boundaries had to be set.

Let’s see it with a couple of pictures from the game to finish his understanding, even if it was a clash several seasons ago. A crowded game on the left side, with a high density of players, up to five from the opposing team. Crossover game changer to remove them from the set and send them to the back of the inside left.

The team receives, with the whole opposing team having to swing and recover, and there are distances between the players. The pass managed to stretch the defense.

We focus on Successful changes via orientation. We narrow it down to the current season and the previous four. The result is overwhelming. Crossover monopolizes everything. The Last season, he made 0.98 attempts per 90 minutes, completed 0.78. Next Bellingham was light-years away: 0.25 attempted and 0.22 successful.

The tone is the same as in previous sessions. In 2022-23, Cross had similar numbers: 0.98 pitches every 90 minutes and 0.82 completed. Ceballos followed him with 0.69 and 0.64, respectively. In 2021-22 The Germans went to 1.65 attempts and 1.29 completions. Modric remained with 0.26 (all his attempts were without failures). Y In 2020-21 Try 1.13 and got it right 0.85, Ahead of Sergio Ramos (0.93 and 0.53).

It’s time to find out who can take this kind of action This season And No one applied for power. Madrid has almost lost this resource. Chuam-an Armenian who does not dare, Barely approaching the left area to get this scroll range. He does it more as a support for the side.

It is curious that The one who made the most effort is Valverde Which, by area of influence, I should be more of a receiver What a passer-by in this action game. Uruguay made As many attempts as red digger (0.5 every 90 minutes), But with Higher completion rate (0.43). It’s almost The half From the hesitation he did Cross.

Melitau is the one who tried the most (0.69) but Where it matters, accuracy, He was not feeling well. He only completed half of it. After all, we are interested in those passes that are completed to continue playing and hurting the opponent.

There is still a lot of the season left, but so far it is clear that it has taken Madrid more than usual to see the door. The reasons can be several and not only the failure to make those changes in the game that are characteristic of crossover. But who It cannot be denied that this is a weapon that the team has completely lost. And on more than one occasion, I was going to give him the solutions. Now, we have to find them somewhere else. For better or for worse, this Madrid is another one.