Real Madrid: 3 keys to victory against Villarreal on LaLiga’s Matchday 7
3. Real Madrid must defend well on counters
The final key is the one where Real Madrid has shown a visible problem. The defensive stability has been compromised with the players playing a high line which is why they look shaky when they’re caught on the break. Something similar led to a goal for Mallorca’s Kang-in Lee in the last game when Eder Militao over-committed leaving the rest of the defense vulnerable, and this has been a consistent problem so far.
Though Villarreal has only scored six goals so far in the league, their capability to create chances must not be underestimated. In the game against Atletico Madrid for instance, Villarreal had the lesser of possession and only two attempts at goal, both of them being the goals that they scored. Compared to Atletico’s 23 attempts, Villarreal was undoubtedly much more clinical. They are a side who can up their game against Elite opponents and Real Madrid would stay very alive to their threat.
Real Madrid should start the defensive setup that started the game against Mallorca, Eder Militao, and David Alaba playing centrally and Nacho and Miguel Gutierrez being the two wide full-backs.
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This game, however, would be different Real Madrid cannot expect similar dictate over the play as in the game against Mallorca, Villarreal will look to break and control possession whenever they can. For Real, it’d include a lot more of sitting back and defending diligently. They should look to stay solid on the back and break on counters to cause Villarreal the most problems, theirs is a defense that opens up and can lead to decent scoring chances.