Coincidence. Fate has wanted the group of this edition of the Champions League to be almost a copy of last season for Real Madrid. In that edition, the Ukrainian Shakhtar was a rival that clearly eluded the whites. We are talking about a talented team, full of good footballers, associative, who handle themselves wonderfully in almost any offensive circumstance, either to dominate or to attack in transition, where they really were accurate in the double confrontation of 2020-21.
Settings. The Ukrainians can hurt Ancelotti’s men again if Madrid does not adjust well defensively, if it is not aggressive and orderly when it comes to pressure, the aspect, without a doubt, with more room for improvement at this start for the thirteen times champions. It is that if you are not able to do this well against Shakhtar, you will not have an easy match. They are going to take the ball from you, they are going to dominate you and they have enough talent to hurt you.
Pressure up. Another problem is if you can be effective in the forward pressure. The perfect example is the return from the previous round of this Champions League that faced Shakhtar and Monaco, where those of the Principality, pressed to turn the situation around, were brave and aggressive, overcoming and making Donetsk’s men suffer, who showed their seams in that context. The path has been laid out, but it must be reflected in the field. Madrid needs to steal more and later to finish controlling the development of the game and, therefore, the matches.
The Shakhtar. Regarding the system, De Zerbi is making small variations with the drawing of the center of the field, always maintaining a line of four defenders and, in most important games, a single striker, a position in which Traoré and Fernando stand out. But the position that exudes talent is that of the midfielders, with men like Pedrinho, who usually plays on the side, Solomon and Alan Patrick. quality, dynamic and unbalanced footballers.
Short circuit. If they manage to connect with the attackers they become a very interesting team, but if you are able to cut that connection they are a vulnerable team. Everything will depend on the way Madrid handles defensively today.
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