18 Yard Box has a look at the clash between the Galacticos and the Red Devils.
February, a month everyone waits for. A month, usually for lovebirds, always brings an excitement amongst the football fans who claim that football is their love partner. Come the 13th, two of world’s best teams would lock horns in the Santiago Bernabeu, all eager to knock each other out of the competition. Both teams with world’s finest footballers would fight their hearts out to keep their hopes of a Champions league glory high and dry.
Despite the almost unlimited resources at his disposal, Mourinho’s side is 3rd in the la liga table and there is a reason(s) for it. The biggest cause for concern has been the Madrid defense. Pepe and Sergio Ramos have been highly inconsistent at the back. The goal-keeping department has been Real Madrid’s biggest strength but Mourinho recent experiment of replacing Casillas with Adan has not gone down well with players and fans alike. Fabio Coentrao has been the only defender who has been consistent while attacking and defending. The sudden dip in form of their front men has been a worrying factor for Mourinho. Benzema and Higuain have had a dry spell of late and Ronaldo has been the only saving grace for Madrid. The fringe players like Modric and Kaka have not seen enough playing time of late and look rusty. Youngsters like Callejon and Moratta lack big game experience to tackle the red tide.
February, a month everyone waits for. A month, usually for lovebirds, always brings an excitement amongst the football fans who claim that football is their love partner. Come the 13th, two of world’s best teams would lock horns in the Santiago Bernabeu, all eager to knock each other out of the competition. Both teams with world’s finest footballers would fight their hearts out to keep their hopes of a Champions league glory high and dry.
It is a day when the prodigal son takes on
his former club. Real Madrid v/s Manchester United is “a clash which the whole
world waits for”. Our writers, Rishav Ghosh and Pranav Shenoy, analyse this tie completely.
Real Madrid
9-time European Champions, Real Madrid
would be gunning for their 10th title this season after having
missed out last year. Having being knocked out of the tournament for the last
11 years, the ambitious Galacticos are prepping to pull out a major coup by
knocking out English leaders Manchester United. With a team filled with
extraordinary individuals, its now or never for the Spanish giants else they
would be just a spent force.
After the high of doing the Double last season, Real Madrid has not been in the best of form this season in the La liga where they lie 3rd behind arch-rivals FC Barcelona and local rivals Athletico Madrid. However, the champions' League has been a different cup of tea for the Galacticos as they successfully qualified from the Group of Death which boasted the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax. With the league title out of their sight, the only possible chance of a title would be the Champions League and to achieve that Mourinho needs to come at United with all guns blazing.
Strengths
 |
| All hopes hinge on Ronaldo |
Real Madrid, like every other Spanish teams
are very good passers and this trait might be enough to trump heavyweights like
Manchester United. With quality midfielders like Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira and
Mesut Ozil, Madrid has an outright chance to break down United’s defence with
their quality passing on the encounter and their perfectly crafted
through-balls. However, Real Madrid’s strength lies in the former United winger
Cristiano Ronaldo. Quite arguably one of the greatest players of his time, Ronaldo,
with exhillerating pace, quick feet, ambidexterity and powerful pile-driving
shots, would be the key to unlock any defence.
Alongwith this, their bench which has players like Luka Modric and Kaka is another positive. The cherry on the top is their coach Jose ‘the Special One’ Mourinho who has won this competition with FC Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2009.
A player who deserves special mention here has been their new centre back Varane. He is the only CB for Real Madrid who has performed consistently well and could be used instead of the ailing Pepe or the unstable Ramos.
A player who deserves special mention here has been their new centre back Varane. He is the only CB for Real Madrid who has performed consistently well and could be used instead of the ailing Pepe or the unstable Ramos.
Weaknesses
 |
| The duo will be under much scrutiny |
On-field issues apart, Real Madrid have been facing other problems as well. Cristiano Ronaldo’s alleged dissatisfaction with his team has been a talking point n the media. When all members of a team are superstars there is are bound to be ego clashes in the dressing room. The Ramos-Mourinho clash has left a depleted morale in the dressing room.
Tactical Approach
 |
| A Galaxy of Stars |
Real Madrid would be looking to capitalise
on their attacking prowess to bag a win against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. With
quality attacking talents in the form of Benzema, Ozil, Ronaldo and di Maria, Mourinho
would be likely to play a formation of 4-2-3-1 with Benzema up ahead of Ozil
and Ronaldo and di Maria marshalling the flanks. Ronaldo, who is known for
hunting down weak defences, might swap wings with di Maria to create a
breakthrough. Khedira and Xabi would most likely be playing deeper just ahead
of the defence line.
Close observations of Madrid’s strategies
this season suggests that they might drop deep to invite the attack. Once with
the ball, Madrid’s counter attacking speed might be the key to open an unstable
United defence. Should Khedira fail to start, the attack minded Luka Modric
might get a place in the starting 11, as Madrid would want to take home
advantage and take the attack to the opponents.
Players to watch out for
1 .Cristiano Ronaldo
Arguably one of the best players in the
business, Ronaldo just might be the one separating both the teams. Having
scored at will after having lost out on yet another Ballon d’Or to Messi, Ronaldo
is the trump card of Mourinho against Manchester United.
2. Mesut Ozil
The vastly talented German midfielder and
Real Madrid’s playmaker, Ozil would be the one pulling the strings in Real
madrid’s attacking moves. With his vision and passing skills he might spell
Manchester United’s doom come this 13th.
Chances
With the quality individuals Mourinho has
at his disposal, it would rather be a surprise if they were not to win this
tie. However, with their poor defensive record and Manchester United’s
attacking talent, the chance of a win might be compromised.
Manchester
United
Sitting pretty at the top of the league
table and almost assured of a league title win, Sir Alex Ferguson would be
looking forward to pulling off a spectacular season, bagging the 3rd Champions
League title for United. Having played rather poorly in the last edition of the
UEFA Champions League, crashing out in the group stages, Manchester United
would be looking to capitalise on last year’s debacle and get their Champions
League glory ride a boost against Real Madrid.
Strengths
 |
| A fearing strike force |
Manchester United has been, over ages, known
for its ‘free flow’ football, a systematic and disciplined approach to the
game. Like Madrid, United’s attacking line bears a lot of sting as Robin van
Persie and Wayne Rooney would be looking wreck havoc in Real Madrid’s defence. Moreover,
Carrick and Cleverley partnership in the middle of the park has really paid off
for Sir Alex Ferguson this season and both would be looking to orchestrate a
Manchester United win away from home and tilt the entire tie in United’s
favour.
The return of Ryan Giggs to goal scoring
form and also the availability of Paul Scholes gives United the experience to
turn the tie.
Weaknesses
 |
| They need to step up |
Going into the match, Manchester United’s
primary concern would be preventing attacks down the flanks and that’s what has
been bugging Sir Alex Ferguson in the past few games. Rafael is good going
forward but he is sloppy in the back and Ronaldo will certainly use that
opportunity to exploit United’s defence. Moreover, Ferdinand and Vidic’s
performance at the back hasn’t been that convincing this season and that might
be the worrying factor for Sir Alex Ferguson.
In Johnny Evans Sir Alex has found a stable
defender but his inexperience alongwith Smalling and Jones’ might tempt Sir
Alex to start with Vidic and Ferdinand at the back.
Tactical Approach
 |
| Men to look out for |
Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the greatest
tacticians, would be playing his cards deftly against a strong opposition like Madrid.
Ferguson would be all out to play his trump cards Rooney and van Persie in a
most likely 4-4-1-1 formation with Rooney playing just behind van Persie in a
support striker role and Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley and Young most likely to
don the midfield area. However the question remains whether Sir Alex would play
Jones or Rafael in the right back position up against Ronaldo. Rafael is good
while attacking but a bit rash whilst defending. On the other hand, Jones is a
good defender and he might be the one facing Ronaldo.
Carrick will the key man in the middle of
the park. Intercepting plays and spraying the balls forward, the Englishman
will have his work cut out. He will be the person who will sit a little deeper
and help Cleverly and Valencia bomb forward.
Players to watch out for
1. Robin van Persie
The talismanic
Dutch and Manchester United forward has been enjoying the time of his life and
every defence has nightmares facing a talent like him. Having notched up 23
goals and assisting 7 already this season, he might be looking to add to his
tally against Mourinho’s men.
2. Wayne Rooney
The English boy, Wayne
Rooney, would be the player to reckon with as the matchday approaches. With his
bag of skills and expert finishing abilities, Rooney might be the one
orchestrating his team’s win.
Chances
 |
| Who will have the last laugh? |
Manchester United’s low tally of Champions
league titles might be proof of the fact that United often do give away under
pressure but this Wednesday, the onus would be on Manchester United to win the
match. With a phenomenal record in the league, playing against Madrid would be
a whole new ball game and with Ronaldo in tormenting form, United could easily
come out 2nd favourites to win this tie.
The Final Verdict
A tough one to call, one would have to go
with Madrid based on their class and quality. But Manchester United are no
pushovers themselves. If they defend properly, United could turn the
tables. We leave it to the readers to
decide the outcome of this tie.
Written By,
Rishav Ghosh and Pranav Shenoy
Rishav and Pranav, both, are writers for 18 Yard Box.
Any Suggestions? Write to us on 18yardbox06@gmail.com
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