Real Madrid (A) - Tues 9th April, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[Chi-town blues]

He plays on the left. That’s why it would be suicidal to put Rico on our right.

I mean our right, his left side but I would like to gomez on our left and akanji on right .

 

[Gone for a Burton]

Of course there is a scenario where Rodri plays centre back…but then who plays full backs? I can’t see Lewis playing against their winger, but really bereft of options.

Take a lie down Bert.

 

[vanchi]

Does vinci j switch side during the game or just stick on right side only ?

whenever i watched him play he was on the left

 

[St.Pauli support]

On 2 yellows and potentially missing 2nd leg
after a 3rd booking:

Dias

Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Vinicius jr.

After the end of the 2nd leg all yellows will be wiped out (NOT fresh suspensions though!).

 

[supercity88]

There's too much fixation in who plays left or right back. Real don't play a rigid 4-3-3 this season. Bellingham's forward role has led them to play a more fluid front 2 with Vinicius roaming around the left/centre and Rodrygo the right/centre and Bellingham looking to support them through the middle. It's not a 4-3-3 we're used to with Bellingham as a central striker and the other two wide. I'm sure Ancelotti will look to give it a bit more shape for defensive discipline, because Leipzig ran them ragged at times and we play a similar style. But on the counter and in attack it's likely that they'll be roaming across the pitch to find space.

 

[Haaland94]

Bernardo isn’t a defender either so your logic is flawed lmaooo

He was faultless as a LB against Arsenal away some time ago. Bernardo is so good he can successfully play anywhere on the pitch. Could give it a go, with Akanji on the right. We would then play Kovacic in midfield for extra protection.

Gvardiol is allegedly fit enough to travel, though, so there is a chance he starts and we won't have a dilemma.

 

[Haaland94]

On 2 yellows and potentially missing 2nd leg
after a 3rd booking:

Dias

Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Vinicius jr.

After the end of the 2nd leg all yellows will be wiped out (NOT fresh suspensions though!).

We have to exploit it. They would be royally screwed without these 4. Bellingham is a hothead, so we should be all over this. All of them quite prone to bookings, though.

 

[alexmcity]

There's too much fixation in who plays left or right back. Real don't play a rigid 4-3-3 this season. Bellingham's forward role has led them to play a more fluid front 2 with Vinicius roaming around the left/centre and Rodrygo the right/centre and Bellingham looking to support them through the middle. It's not a 4-3-3 we're used to with Bellingham as a central striker and the other two wide. I'm sure Ancelotti will look to give it a bit more shape for defensive discipline, because Leipzig ran them ragged at times and we play a similar style. But on the counter and in attack it's likely that they'll be roaming across the pitch to find space.

It's our CBs who will have to take care of Vin Jr and Rodrygo ultimately. Let's hope Stones will be fit enough to last 90 minutes.

 

[supercity88]

He was faultless as a LB against Arsenal away some time ago. Bernardo is so good he can successfully play anywhere on the pitch. Could give it a go, with Akanji on the right. We would then play Kovacic in midfield for extra protection.

Gvardiol is allegedly fit enough to travel, though, so there is a chance he starts and we don't have a dilemma.

If the issue is the counter, and a lack of pace. Bernardo isn't the answer. We shouldn't be too concerned about what they can do. If we keep the ball they wont have the chance to counter. If we press and pin them in they wont either. We didn't give them a sniff at the Etihad. We boxed Arsenal and Villa in and had them unable to counter us. It's when we make mistakes that we get punished, and when we try to defend the ball and not the space.

Whilst Real didn't play Bellingham/Vinicius/Rodrygo together against Leipzig there's a huge opportunity to attack them down the middle. You pull Camavinga/Valverde wide to cover the space left because Vinicius/Rodrygo don't defend. And then you play central into Haaland/Foden/De Bruyne and look to spring him in.

Real have only played once since 16th March. They might be rested and well trained, but we'll be in much better shape to step things up for this one.

 

[supercity88]

It's our CBs who will have to take care of Vin Jr and Rodrygo ultimately. Let's hope Stones will be fit enough to last 90 minutes.

If Rodri plays as well as we've come to expect, and we press properly, there's no reason we can't pin them in so they're feeding off scraps.