How can Real Madrid line up with Martin Ødegaard in the XI?
By Parshva Shah
At the tip of the midfield in 4-4-2 diamond formation
The formation that Zidane has revolutionized in modern football, the 4-4-2 diamond formation has proved to be an uncharacteristically effective formation for Zidane, leading Real Madrid to two consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies and helping him clinch La Liga in 2016-17.
Isco was the juggernaut in the four-man midfield that comprised of Toni Kroos, Casemiro, and Luka Modrić. He pulled the strings with perfection and was one of the best players in the world in 2016-17 just because Zidane used him in a role he felt at home at.
Martin Ødegaard at the tip of the diamond in 4-4-2
— Parshva Shah (@_ParshvaShah_) September 4, 2020
- expect him to play like Isco, although he will slide more to the right, hence avoiding asymmetry in the shape of the pitch
- can play easily between the lines, somewhere he is known to thrive pic.twitter.com/q2LNvS86ac
In the 4-4-2, Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard are the most probable duo to start up top. With Ødegaard in the lineup functioning as the playmaker, Real Madrid will have greater control in midfield. Ball possession and retention would be as smooth as butter with Ødegaard doing the work in the middle and final third of the pitch.
His strength lies in pinging balls in behind the defence, finding either Hazard or Benzema to use their reliable finishing to score. With Fede Valverde as my third midfielder, he could function as a makeshift right-winger to constantly ask questions to the opposition. Valverde’s affinity to the right side of the pitch will help him strike an instant partnership with Ødegaard, who can easily supply Fede’s long legs with through balls on under/overlaps while building an attack.
With Isco, the shape of the team was asymmetric. Isco loves to play more on the left side of the pitch, and so do Hazard and Benzema (the home match against PSG in the group stage of Champions League last season emphasizes what I am trying to say). Isco and the left-back (Ferland Mendy or Marcelo) created overloads on the left flank. This distorted the shape of the team, although it didn’t affect the gameplay of the team as much.
With Ødegaard, the right-backs (Dani Carvajal and Álvaro Odriozola) will be found as outlets and can make overlapping and underlapping runs to invade the final third and ping crosses/cut-backs for the on-rushing players/centre-forward(s).