The Intricacies of Managing Real Madrid: Substitutions

Villarreal vs Real Madrid, 3-2 Win

What a game this was. Easily one of the most exciting games of the year for Madridistas. This match provided the perfect example of what can happen when you make the perfect substitutions.

Once again, Real Madrid looked weak in their own third, ending the first half 0-0, even if it should’ve been 2-0 against them. Then the second half started off like the first ended, and Villarreal scored two goals in quick succession. This time though, Zidane was quick to make changes.

Two minutes after the second goal, Isco came on for Casemiro. Its not hard to see why he made that change. Isco is easily the best midfielder on the attack. In fact, a quick look at the stats show us just how good he is at creating chances when compared to Modric and Casemiro. He also happens to be better on the attack than Kroos by quite a bit. The payoff was immediate, with Real Madrid scoring just 6 minutes after he came on.

Ten minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty bringing Real Madrid level. Zidane saw this as the perfect opportunity. He made a change that would change the outcome of the game if it payed off: Morata for Benzema.

A quick look at their stats shows that Morata has been deadlier in the box with only a little over half the minutes played. He’s also a much greater aerial threat, which could take advantage of the fullbacks and wingers to their full potential. Once again, the payoff was almost immediate, with Morata scoring just 5 minutes after coming on for Benzema.

Now, Madrid is not only winning but also extremely dangerous up front. This, however, is a double edged sword and Zidane noticed. This would prompt his final change: Vazquez for Bale. This change was interesting; not because of the difference in players and their play style, but because of what it did to the formation.

Vazquez’s inclusion allowed Real Madrid’s formation to shift to a 4-5-1. This was an incredibly smart move from Zidane. This not only allowed Los Blancos to dominate the midfield late in the match, but also allowed for more defensive play. In essence, he stopped Villarreal in their tracks and parked the bus.

Next: Real Madrid vs Las Palmas: Three Things to Watch For

This match is probably the best example of Zidane using his substitutions tactically as opposed to keeping everything the same and just switching players. You can see what a difference it made, and hopefully he noticed as well.