Real Madrid started the season with one of the hottest attacks in European football, buoyed by the incredible scoring (and assisting) rates of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. As we saw this past weekend in a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, Benz and Vini are still important to Real and are still connecting to come up with goals. But considering Real only put one past Rayo and carried very little attacking threat for much of the match, it is clear that their once-vaunted attack has slowed.
Despite being first in the league overall and first in goals (52), Real Madrid have found the back of the net just five times in their last six matches. Three of those goals came in a single second-half performance against Deportivo Alaves, which featured another woeful opening stanza from Los Blancos.
Carlo Ancelotti did a great job of boosting the attack to start the season, but he must fix many of the mistakes he has created in the second half of the campaign.
Here are three ways the experienced manager can improve Real Madrid’s attack before the 2021-22 season ends.
Get Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde involved more
Real Madrid fans have practically been begging the Italian manager to give more minutes to Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga, who have both been very impressive at times this season. It seems as if Ancelotti has forgotten how critical Camavinga was to his successful start to the season, changing the game and scoring on his debut at the Santiago Bernabeu to help Real put five past Celta Vigo. And then he had the game-winning assist off the bench in the Champions League at the San Siro.
Meanwhile, Fede has been neglected far too often in Ancelotti’s starting lineups, and it has come to the detriment of the squad. You cannot tell me that Real Madrid wouldn’t have had a chance at the Parc des Princes against PSG if Valverde were in the XI.
Valverde changed the game off the bench in 1-0 LaLiga wins over Granada and Rayo, winning the ball and starting transitions.
These two players can make life easier for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in midfield, as well as the forwards. They have the pace, dribbling ability, and awareness to move the ball forward and keep the attack moving at a high pace. If Ancelotti wants to play in transition, why is he neglecting two of the best midfielders in LaLiga in transition?