In a heart-pounding Champions League encounter, Real Madrid triumphed over AS Roma with a narrow 4-3 victory. Despite the win, the match spotlighted several tactical issues, particularly when Madrid faced intense pressure from their opponents. Before impactful substitutions were made, the team struggled significantly to build their play effectively.
AS Roma executed their high-press approach efficiently, putting Real Madrid’s players in a position where generating offensive plays from the back was exceedingly challenging. Amidst this turmoil, Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian goalkeeper, encountered a rather unusual directive.
Courtois: The Long Pass Specialist
Instead of utilizing the technical talents of his teammates, Courtois frequently resorted to launching long passes into open spaces as a means to alleviate pressure. Oddly, Real Madrid had numerous players capable of facilitating ball progression. This tactic meant that Courtois was tasked with sending the ball long, hoping his teammates could win aerial duels or capitalize on vacant spaces.
Statistical analysis from the match reveals that Courtois completed only three long passes out of over ten attempts. This strategy evidently hampered Madrid’s ability to maintain possession and bypass Roma’s aggressive pressing game.
Courtois’s role as a primary outlet for long balls neglects the inherent skill sets of players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arda Güler, and Bernardo Silva, who could easily assist in moving the ball forward with more finesse. For example, Alexander-Arnold has been known for his crucial involvement in building attacks during his time at Liverpool, with his capacity to provide progressive passes creating alternatives to Courtois’s long-clearance method.
Meanwhile, in the midfield, Thiago Pitarch was recognized for his audacity in seeking the ball and maneuvering space under pressure. Eduardo Camavinga also offered ball-carrying skills that could enable Real Madrid to break through opposing pressure more efficiently. However, the combination of Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde was criticized for its inability to offer much-needed support in such situations. When midfielders fail to present passing lanes, the burden on Courtois to initiate attacks becomes disproportionately heavy.
Rethinking the Build-Up Strategy
Although the victory against Roma illustrated that individual brilliance and timely substitutions could influence the game, Real Madrid cannot continue relying on dramatic comebacks to mask underlying strategic vulnerabilities.
Mourinho needs to reconsider the team’s build-up strategy, particularly when facing teams that apply strong pressing tactics. Midfielders must actively position themselves as options for passing, while full-backs should help to create pathways for progression.
Courtois ideally should be a participant in the attacking buildup rather than the sole focus in evading opponent pressure through long balls. By fully leveraging the skills of available players, Madrid stands a better chance of performing in a more organized manner, thus reducing the risk of ball loss.
If these issues do not address swiftly, victories like the one against Roma could become exceptions rather than a standard of consistency that Real Madrid aspires to achieve.
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