Analysis: Real Madrid

Real Madrid set up in a 4-3-3, with Casemiro at the base of the midfield triangle and Toni Kroos and Luka Modric ahead of him. Isco, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale led the attack.

Los Blancos stretched the pitch as wide as possible in possession, with either the full-backs or the forwards hugging the touchline and the midfielders and attackers playing on different lines inside. Isco predictably tended to sit deeper and drifted inside much more than Benzema or Bale. They imposed an early strategy of trying to release Bale in behind at the earliest opportunity – this further stretched the play and created more space for Isco and Modric to dictate play in advanced areas.

Real caused numerous problems for their opponents through their combination play around the edge of the penalty area, and blindside runs beyond individuals within Roma’s defensive and midfield units. Several early chances were created through both of these approaches, including the free-kick that led to Isco’s opening goal on the stroke of half-time.

They similarly posed a threat when individuals would drive forward with the ball – this attracted players towards the man in possession, creating space behind and around the pressing player. Well-timed passes to the free man allowed Real to eliminate players from their opponents’ lines and increase the number of chances they were creating.

The hosts’ attacking players could be seen dropping far from the defensive line to help with the build-up, but one would always stay high to discourage Roma from bringing their defensive line up. The Roma players were reluctant to track the likes of Isco and Benzema when they dropped deeper, as they were wary of leaving more dangerous spaces in behind for penetrative runs. In turn, though, this allowed Real to overload Roma around the ball, allowing for clean progression to the next phase.

They remained in their 4-3-3 out of possession and would look to press Roma high when possible. Modric often locked on to Daniele De Rossi in order to prevent the deep-lying midfielder from receiving and turning, while Benzema, Bale and Isco would press the centre-backs and full-backs – who were thus forced into playing long, inaccurate passes that could easily be recovered. They occasionally fell into a mid-block, where Isco and Bale would end up deeper than Modric and Kroos to track the full-backs.

Towards the latter stages of the game, they took on more of a 4-1-4-1 shape, with Isco and substitute Marco Asensio tucking in with Modric and Kroos. This was to ensure they not only secured the three points, but also the clean sheet – although Roma rarely looked capable of grabbing a consolation goal.