The Italian coach opted to start five central midfielders at the Metripolitano, but it didn't work at all as Los Blancos lost 3-1
In recent years, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid have been immune to the challenges that have come with major games. This is a side that does not fear the biggest occasions, mainly because their manager does not allow it. Ancelotti has his system, his players, and his philosophy. There are tweaks — there have to be some — but no rival has brought about drastic change.
That is, until Sunday. Ancelotti had a rare tactical blip in one of his poorer days as Madrid manager, setting up a puzzling system that saw his side battered on the break by an eager Atletico team who ran out 3-1 winners in the Madrid derby.
The troubles were clear early on as Atletico embarked on a sweeping move down the left wing, with Samuel Lino afforded the time to reflect on the necessary angles, peer into the open space available to him, and deliver a whipped cross that Alvaro Morata simply nodded home.
Atletico added a second shortly after. This one came down the same wing with Saul, enjoying something of a revival after a forgettable loan spell at Chelsea, finding Antoine Griezmann, who rose from the penalty spot, entirely unmarked, to put his team 2-0 up. The third was nearly identical. Saul delivered the pass again for Morata to creep into a yard of space to evade three static Madrid defenders.
And those three crucial moments decided the contest. Ancelotti played five midfielders and no real striker, put Jude Bellingham on the wing, and asked a 38-year-old Luka Modric to start for the second game in a row. The Madrid attack was as discombobulated as expected, the only goal coming from a 20-yard Toni Kroos effort.
Changes did eventually come late in the game, Ancelotti abandoning his new system in favour of the 4-4-2 diamond that had handed Madrid a perfect start to the season. But his mishaps had done their damage, Madrid slumping to a derby loss to the tune of a tactical and defensive nightmare.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Metripolitano…
WINNER: Alvaro Morata
Few would have guessed that Atletico's often maligned striker would prove to be the difference between the two sides, but Alvaro Morata's brace was vital.
His role was stripped down from an attacking perspective here. The forward only had 28 touches all game, and was seldom involved off the ball. Instead, he provided an able body in transition, and, crucially, a clinical finisher when required.
Madrid will feel, correctly, that they should have defended Morata more effectively. Still, he took both of his goals well, meeting angled crosses and judging his headers expertly, leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga helpless on both occasions.
Morata is, contrary to social media belief, a rather decent centre-forward, despite all of the criticism levelled at him on a weekly basis. He showed just how impactful he can be on Sunday evening.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: David Alaba
In the 47th minute, after Morata bagged his second goal, David Alaba turned around, looked angrily at his team-mates, and pounded the Metropolitano turf. But for all of his protestations, the Austrian could only blame himself. For the second time in the fixture, he had lost the Spanish striker, and been far too easily exploited with a simple cross.
It was the culmination of a rare poor showing from Alaba, who always seems to get the fundamentals right. He doesn't usually lose his man, or miss a header. He tends to time his tackles, and read passing lanes. Against Atletico, though, he was all over the place.
He can certainly be blamed for both of Morata's goals, and didn't offer much help on the Atletico second either, failing to communicate with his centre-back partner Antonio Rudiger as Griezmann found far too much space. He doesn't have bad nights often; this one was awful.
WINNER: Barcelona
It is certainly too early in the season to be calling the Liga title race. Barcelona and Real Madrid will likely compete deep into the fixture list for the crown, these two fundamentally flawed but immensely exciting sides engaging in what should be an intriguing duel.
And although we are far too early to extrapolate points, performances and results into anything concrete, this would have made for a nice watch for the Blaugrana, especially after their own epic comeback win on Saturday.
Madrid were easily exploitable here, their defensive weaknesses laid bare. It is perhaps a showing that others can take inspiration from, too. Hit Madrid on the break, exploit the wings, and you will have a chance. And if this was the game that showed Madrid's biggest flaws — and gave other sides a clue as to how they might take a point or three off Los Blancos — then Barca might just have the upper hand in the weeks to come.
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Getty ImagesLOSER: Luka Modric
Ancelotti has promised for a year now that Modric would be steadily phased out of the Madrid line-up. He admitted in February that both the Croatian and Kroos would have to accept a "moment of transition" in the Spanish capital, and suggested that they will not be regular starters this year. On Sunday, it was easy to see why.
Modric appeared in the Madrid line-up for the second straight game, just five days after playing 70 tricky minutes against Union Berlin. And he looked tired from the first whistle, overwhelmed by the pace and bite of the contest. He struggled to get back, and was uncharacteristically squalid on the ball.
He played only 45 minutes, touched the ball 38 times, and didn't create a single chance. This was not the showing of the former Ballon d'Or winner. Rather, it was the trudge of a 38-year-old starting to look his age.