3 reasons why Chelsea cannot underestimate Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti has no reason to make another huge tactical gamble

El Clasico was a tactical failure. Of course, the players were to blame but this game was more about Carlo’s inadequacy than Barcelona’s superiority.

The team went against a system that has been working so well in the Clasicos over the last three years. The initial line-up hinted at a traditional 4-3-3, with Federico Valverde occupying the right flank. It was, however, a false nine approach with Luka Modric playing the role. We have witnessed time and again, that anything besides 4-3-3 rarely works for Real Madrid. There’s no better time to insert an example from last season, against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals.

Zinedine Zidane resorted to a shaky three-at-the-back approach in both legs, and Real Madrid suffered miserably. Not to mention, Vinicius started as a right-wing back so that a relatively unfit Eden Hazard could occupy the left-wing. Big games call for a traditional 4-3-3, and I hope Carlo Ancelotti has realized that by now.

In the second half of the Clasico, things got worse when Carlo switched to back three. I’m not saying Real Madrid would have won if they started off with 4-3-3, but they surely wouldn’t have conceded four.

With Benzema and Mendy back, there is no reason for Ancelotti to tweak the formation against Chelsea. We can expect a much more even battle with a 4-3-3. It all depends on what the players do on the pitch.