By El Maestro
Déjà vu, for a second straight year, Real Madrid will take on Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. The only difference from last years meeting is this year they meet in the quarterfinals which means it is a home and away fixture. This is also the third time in less than a year that both teams will be meeting in a two game series (Champions League 2010/2011, Supercopa de Espana 2011, and now Copa del Rey 2011/2012). Since two games decide the clash, Mou can’t approach the game the same way he did over a month ago when Madrid played Barcelona in the league. With the 1st game being at home, it is important Madrid gets a great result to take to the Camp Nou the following week. Already from the start, Mou will have some problems determining the lineups since he will not be able to count on Arbeloa, who is suspended, and Khedira, who got injured during the Malaga game and will be out at least a month. Now, just because Arbeloa and Khedira are out doesn’t mean we should all panic. From this squad Mou has numerous lineups and formations he can go with.
Option #1: The original 4-2-3-1
This formation allowed Real Madrid to play the best soccer against Barcelona in the 1st leg of the Spanish Supercup, since their rein began in 2009. However, with both Khedira and Arbeloa out it is unknown if Mou will go with this formation. After Khedira, the players that could partner Xabi Alonso are Lass, Coentroa, Sahin, Granero, or Altintop.
Lass: With Arbeloa out, it is likely Mou will stick with him at right back and even so, after last months Clasico, it wouldn’t be the best solution to put him paired up with Xabi. Although he did a good job containing Messi, this formation will force Madrid to be offensive, which is an area Lass tends to struggle with whenever he plays in the midfield. Even though he is a good technical player, but his partnership with Xabi could see disrupt Madrid’s flow of attack.
Coentrao: Although he has not partnered Xabi in the last few months, Coentrao could be a positive solution. His role would allow Xabi to be the maestro of the midfield, which would give Madrid the attacking mind they need to play against Barcelona. The only problem is after the last Clasico, how will he respond if Mou does decide to go with him.
Altintop: His age & experience could provide something positive, but his lack of minutes could jeopardize his name in the starting 11.
Granero or Sahin: Both are the perfect solution to the midfield. Either one would supply that offensive spark Real Madrid need. The problem is Granero still hasn’t shown much in the two and a half years since coming to Madrid and Sahin is still in preseason mode trying to get back into form after his injury.
Option #2: 4-3-3
The formation that won Real Madrid the Copa del Rey last season. If Mourinho is looking to stop Barcelona’s tiki-taca style, this is the formation he would choose. Mou has a few options he can go with, but considering the circumstances, there is one possibility he may highly consider.
With Arbeloa out, and Lass the likely candidate to substitute him, put Pepe, the man who struck fear in all Barcelona players, back in the midfield. Although some people might call me crazy, but personally I believe Pepe in the midfield against Barcelona was one of the greatest ideas Mou has had since the day he had to guts to call himself “The Special One”. Every time Pepe played in the midfield against Barcelona, they struggled to play their game, Messi was unnoticeable, and most importantly it gave Madrid a chance to win. The reason “expert” were against this idea was because it was anti-soccer, they wouldn’t see beautiful soccer, and the aggressiveness Pepe brought. The most important thing is to win, and if that means putting a destructive player in the midfield, then so be it.
Option #3: 4-4-2
Mou used this formation for last weekend’s game against Granada, and he could consider using it against Barcelona. Higuain and Benzema have been a lethal weapon every time they partner up and both seem to thrive on each other. Benzema’s talent forces more defenders to be on him, which opens more spaces and allows Higuain to be free. Higuain’s prescience on the field takes pressure off Benzema and allows him to be more open and creative. The problem with this formation is how to set the lineup. With Di Maria possibly being ready, it is not typical to use two outside wingers (Di Maria & CR7) if you play with two strikers up top. Also, what happens with Ozil, who goes in the back, and who starts as Xabi’s partner? If Mou does decide to go with this formation, he needs to think clearly about who to put in and how to use it.
Option #4: 3-3-3-1
For anyone who reads this, your eyes are not deceiving you, it is a 3-3-3-1. Many of you may be thinking I’ve lost my mind, but after looking into it, this system could work. This would consist of having 3 non attacking defenders, 3 defensive midfielders that will limit Barcelona’s possession and pressure high to soak of their attack, 3 attacking midfielders, and a lone striker up top. No doubt this would be an all out attacking formation. If Mou decides to go with this, every player from the get go is going to pressure up high, not sit back and wait for a perfect counter attack.
In order for this to work the 3 defenders must be back at all time and cannot go up as much to attack. Meaning defenders, like Ramos who likes to go up, cannot be moving up and down the field. The 3 midfielders in front of the defense is the team’s insurance policy. When the whistle blows, they go all out to pressure Barcelona and prevent them from even reaching the defense. After that it is the 3 attacking midfielders and the lone striker who pressure Barcelona’s defense and are responsible for making the game very uncomfortable for the Cules as most of their attacks begin in the back. The best part of this formation is Real Madrid will have 6 players in the midfield to Barcelona’s 3 or 4, which means if every single player has their head in the game, Madrid will swallow up Barcelona’s midfield.
Goalie
Right Defender Central Defender Left Defender
Midfielder Midfielder Midfielder
Midfielder Midfielder Midfielder
Striker
With a two game fixture against Barcelona, it is more than likely Mou will pick one of these formations. The problem with approaching this series is Mou cannot think in just winning, he must focus on winning and making sure they get a great result for the return leg in the Camp Nou. These games have a very small margin of error, especially with Real Madrid playing the 1st leg in the Santiago Bernabeu. Now, just because I put up these four formations doesn’t mean Mou will use one of them. For all we know, Mou might be planning a formation or lineup that no one thought he would ever even look at.
Either way, on Wednesday Real Madrid will have a 2nd opportunity to play Barcelona and show the world what they really are made up. After last months humiliating loss, they will be determined to avenge that defeat and make a statement to the world. In the past few days, “experts” have said that Real Madrid eliminating Barcelona is very difficult or down right impossible. Well what a way for Madrid to prove their doubters wrong than by proving it in this series. First things first, Real Madrid has to focus on winning at home, think in scoring the 1st goal before thinking in the 2nd or 3rd, and most important, prepared to play 180 minutes of soccer. If they do all that then the series looks bright for Real Madrid.
!HALA MADRID! !A POR ELLOS!
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