Real Madrid is drawn alongside Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk, and FC Sheriff in Group D of the Champions League. Three members of the group remain the same as last season’s whereas Sheriff from Moldova comes in for Borussia Monchengladbach. This is bound to work in favor of the clubs who have already faced each other in the competition’s last edition.
As such, Real Madrid would be expected to win their group and advance into the knockout stages, as they did last time. This time, however, things would be a little different in a good way. Real’s Champions League run was pretty questionable last season, this season the signs have been more positive with Carlo Ancelotti improving the team’s offense. Here are the reasons why Real Madrid will win their Group before they advance into the knockout stages of the competition.
1. Real Madrid have already won their most difficult fixture in the group
Real Madrid was arguably up for their most difficult fixture on the very first Matchday of the Champions League. Inter Milan, away at the San Siro, things will not get any more tensed than that in this group for Real. And, luckily, they extracted the best result possible out of the match, a full quota of three points.
The win at San Siro will go on a long way to help Real Madrid in their campaign. The two other opponents that Real Madrid will face are Shakhtar and Sheriff. Sheriff – the first Moldovan club to feature in the competition – made a great start to their campaign with a 2-0 win over Shakhtar. Shakhtar, on the other hand, had beaten Real on both occasions last season. And, Los Blancos would be looking at revenge against the Ukrainian club.
With all that being taken into account, I think Real Madrid’s newfound goal-scoring and counter-attacking style of play that we have seen in the season thus far should keep these opponents at bay. These are clubs with less experience on the European stage and will struggle against the very best in the competition. Los Blancos should attain comfortable home victories and will look to extract points off the away fixtures as well, and that should be enough for them to win their group.
2. Real Madrid’s Goalscoring form is bound to trouble opponents
One of the major problems for Real Madrid last season was their goal scoring. Zinedine Zidane paid much more heed to defensive stability and Real Madrid thrived on slow and tactical build-up plays that resulted in few clear openings. Real Madrid’s main goal scorer, Karim Benzema seemed like the only threat on goal for Los Blancos under the French manager.
However, things have changed plenty under the new boss, Carlo Ancelotti. This season, Real Madrid’s game has been more about out-scoring oppositions, rather than defending and keeping other oppositions from scoring. The game against Levante seems like the perfect example where Real Madrid conceded three but also found three goals to make amends and steal a point.
Something similar is anticipated against the likes of Shakhtar who defeated Real Madrid twice in the group stages last season. And, a good chunk of their goals was from counter-attacks. This time around, things will be different and Real Madrid will look to outscore them rather than sit deep and defend diligently.
It is almost as if Real Madrid is finding back the brand of football the club was always originally associated with. They have now scored 15 goals from five league games and one more in the game against Inter. 16 goals from six games is a brilliant record for a team that thrived on one-goal victories last season. The transition has been quick and effective and that right there is something their opponents should be attentive towards.
3. Match-winners and Impact-substitutions
Real Madrid’s squad is filled with big-name players like Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, or even Vinicius Junior, who is showing all signs of becoming LaLiga’s next Superstar. And, there is no doubt that these star names are going to be the difference makers for the club on the pitch.
Karim Benzema alone can be argued to be a reason why Real will have the better of all the opponents in the group. His creativity, finishing, linkups, every single thing has been world-class so far. Picking up 11 goal contributions within five league games isn’t an ordinary feat. Apart from him, Vinicius Junior has been the vital difference maker so far with five goals already. Evergreen midfielders like Luka Modric have been putting in great performances to make up for the missing Toni Kroos.
And if that’s not enough, Don Carlo has well and truly found his impact-substitutes in Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo Goes. Every time Real Madrid needs extra energy on the pitch, Camavinga seems to step up and cause a change. His introduction pumps energy to all of Real Madrid’s legs on the pitch. The game against Valencia should serve as the perfect example where the Frenchman didn’t score or assist but his introduction absolutely turned the game around.
Similar has been the case for Fede Valverde and Rodrygo Goes. Real Madrid has really hit the jackpot with some of their purchases. They are showing that they are capable of leading the project they were brought in for – to be the club’s future. With such game-winners in the starting line-up as well as on the bench, Los Blancos are the clear favorites in Group D.
4. Ancelotti’s Real Madrid has mastered the art of turning games around
The fourth reason why I think Real Madrid will win their group is a very important one. And, that is after taking into account the style of play of clubs like Shakhtar and Sheriff and Real Madrid’s transitioning back-line in central defense. These clubs will look to break on counter-attacks and defending said counters has been a visible drawback for Real Madrid this season.
However, it is not all negative. The best part is that Real Madrid has looked like a team that does not slow down after conceding a goal. They go up a gear and rescue points in the dying embers of the game. Whatever Ancelotti says in his half-time team talk is working wonders for Los Blancos so far. Every single game so far has been decided in the second half including the ones like the Celta game where Real was 1-2 down at halftime. They came back to win 5-2 in the second half.
Even Carlo Ancelotti was quick to recognize his player’s efforts until the very end of the match. From the first game against Alaves to the most recent one against Valencia, all were won in the latter half of the game. Real Madrid proved that they were still very much the comeback kings with two goals in two minutes after being down to a goal in the game against Valencia.
The games against Inter Milan and Real Betis are testament to the fact that Real Madrid somehow has been successful in producing that one moment of brilliance that in the end remains the difference between the two sides. The signs so far have been plentiful and positive and this very attitude resonates a strong belief in the chances of Real Madrid winning their Group in the Champions League. This is a transformed Real Madrid side that never gives up.
5. The transitioning defense will hold up well as the season progresses
The last reason is the one where I am taking a long shot. But, it is not all speculation, Real Madrid’s back-line has shown signs of settling as well as faced newer problems, the very recent being Dani Carvajal’s injury. Real Madrid has tried out two different central-back pairings. One with Eder Militao and David Alaba and the second with Nacho and Eder Militao.
In my opinion, the Militao-Alaba pairing has worked better for Los Blancos. Although they were lucky to have not conceded a goal in the game against Inter, the bottom-line stays that Real Madrid’s new defensive combination found a way and secured a clean sheet. Such performances will go a long way in restoring the confidence in a defense that hasn’t found its footing yet. The game against Betis too was very similar.
In fact, the goal that Valencia’s Hugo Duro scored in the last Matchday was the first goal conceded by Real Madrid when Militao and Alaba started at the central defense. Having a player like Alaba at Central defense should be a big boon for Real Madrid. Alaba’s qualities make him a great ball-playing defender, the kind Don Carlo loves to work with. The signs point towards having him play centrally more regularly.
Hugo Duro’s goal came after a defensive error from Lucas Vazquez who replaced Dani Carvajal after his injury in the first half. And that brings me to the most important point, the right-back situation at Real Madrid is something that needs immediate attention. Up to the point that the goal was conceded, Real Madrid very much looked like a team who could recover bodies quickly and defend counters, and these are all positive signs that the defense will find its footing as the season progresses.
With Dani Carvajal out for few weeks at least, my shout would be to shift Nacho to the right and play Miguel Gutierrez who owns the left-back role. He has proved his worth on multiple occasions and deserves to have a more regular role in the squad. Nacho is a very versatile defender who looks to be settled in at the fullback position. One of the world’s best Goalkeepers in Thibaut Courtois is always there guarding Real’s goal. And, that should see Real Madrid through and help them win their Champions League group.