5 reasons why Real Madrid can win the Champions League

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MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 01: Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid shake hands during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 01, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) /

The world’s best defense

Heading into La Liga Matchday 24, Real Madrid allowed only 14 goals in 23 games, giving them the best defense in the league by some distance. Atletico Madrid, whom Real have beaten twice in the calendar year 2020, were in second with 17 goals allowed, playing a notoriously defensive (boring) style.

Real Madrid’s defense is layered. They have hard-working box-to-box midfielders in Luka Modric and Fede Valverde who set the tone in the middle of the park. Vinicius Junior, Lucas Vazquez, Rodrygo, and even Gareth Bale are hard-working wingers who will help the fullbacks defensively. Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema are effective pressers, and James Rodriguez, when healthy, has shown plenty of fight, especially against Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan in September.

In short, defending is up to the entire team, and Zinedine Zidane’s side takes that to heart.

But the back four is, of course, the bed rock of Real’s defense; there isn’t a better back four in football right now.

Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos have set the standard at the center back position for so many years, and they work perfectly together. Ramos is the aggressive, commanding center back, while Varane is composed and cleans up what’s left. Both men are athletic, adept at covering, and cerebral. They can even make killer passes and score goals of their own.

As for the fullbacks, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are in the discussion as the best at their respective positions. They support the attack, are composed defensively, and make crucial interventions. Mendy, in particular, has been brilliant defensively, with only two fullbacks in Europe’s top five leagues allowing fewer dribbles per game.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois leads all La Liga keepers in clean sheets, goals allowed per game, and save percentage. He is world-class and has drastically cut down on his mistakes from 2018-2019. Now, Courtois inspires confidence.

And finally, defensive midfielder Casemiro is the league’s leader in basically every defensive stat, whether it’s tackles or ball recoveries. He is the glue that holds it all together.

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