Real Madrid: 3 advantages Los Blancos hold over Liverpool

Real Madrid and Liverpool are two of the biggest clubs in Europe, and while much of the conversation around the Reds has been dire in 2021, their dominant win over Arsenal this weekend is a reminder that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League. They easily dispatched of Bundesliga title contenders and 2019-2020 semifinalists RB Leipzig, and they will present quite the challenge to Real.

But Los Blancos have their own advantages. They are the most prestigious club in the world and won La Liga last season. Though they’ve had their own struggles this season in multiple competitions, they have three key advantages they can use to score a big first-leg win at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano this Tuesday.

Real Madrid have the better midfield

Liverpool’s midfield is not bad by any means. Thiago is one of the best midfielders of our generation, former Madrid man Fabinho is a tough defensive presence, and James Milner is a steely veteran. Even without Jordan Henderson, this is still a quality group.

But it would be blasphemous for somebody to take this trio over Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The same praise for Thiago can be applied to Kroos and Modric, and it can honestly be done more effusively for the Real Madrid pairing. Kroos, in particular, has been ridiculously good this season. He even has eight assists to his name in La Liga.

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Then there is defensive midfielder Casemiro, who is the best pure defensive presence in the business and is also Real’s second-leading scorer in the league. These three men are capable of wiping Liverpool off the floor. After all, they already did so in a literal Champions League Final.

There is no greater advantage Los Blancos have than their midfield, and it is an advantage they would boast over anyone.

Karim Benzema’s current form

Karim Benzema has now scored in each of his last seven games. The legendary No. 9 has nine goals and one assist in that time span, including a goal in his last Champions League outing against Atalanta. And Benz also scored this past weekend in a 2-0 win over Eibar.

Liverpool have two world-class forwards in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and their No. 9, Roberto Firmino, is pretty close to that level. But when it comes to both current form and big-game experience in the Champions League, no single player in the Reds’ vaunted attacking trio – or even talented backup Diogo Jota – can hold a candle to the Real Madrid MVP.

It will be extremely difficult for Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak to keep Benzema off the scoresheet, even if we admit that Kabak is an excellent signing and future star (I once touted him as a target for Real) while Phillips has shown great tenacity. But these two young center backs could be in line for a little bit of a lesson in the first leg, courtesy of the 33-year-old center forward.

Real Madrid, Nacho Fernandez (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

Real Madrid’s ability to use a back three

Liverpool have a couple of quality depth options, namely Jota in the attack, but Real Madrid have more flexibility in how they can approach Liverpool tactically, including with in-game adjustments. But my favorite option at Zinedine Zidane’s disposal is the back three, which is more about Real’s ability to create control of the pitch than even the defensive solidity created by three center-halves.

Look at what Los Blancos did to Getafe, Atalanta, and Eibar. They dominated all three team with clean sheet victories by using a back three. They did struggle against Elche with this formation, but that was only until Toni Kroos and Luka Modric entered the pitch. Both men will be starting for Real against Liverpool this week.

Real Madrid won’t have Sergio Ramos, but the trio of Ferland Mendy, Raphael Varane, and Nacho Fernandez excelled against Getafe. If Zidane chooses three center backs, those should be his picks. Eder Militao got his minutes for a well-rested Varane this weekend vs. Eibar.

Next. 3 reasons why Real Madrid will beat Liverpool. dark

Modric and Kroos can rule the pitch in the attack in this formation, and the left winger can have more room to roam with Marcelo playing the creative role on the left-hand side. Or Marcelo can tuck in with Vinicius serving as an industrious wing back of sorts. And judging by what we saw from right winger Marco Asensio this weekend, the “back three” formation serves the Andalusian quite well, too.

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