UEFA Champions League 2020/21: Borussia Monchengladbach vs Real Madrid- tactical preview

This years tightly scheduled UEFA Champions League gets back underway on Tuesday night, with Borussia Monchengladbach taking on a Real Madrid side fresh off an El Clásico victory at the weekend. Borussia Mönchengladbach sit fifth in the Bundesliga table at the time of writing, and have made probably a below expectations start to their season so far, with disappointing results against Union Berlin and Wolfsburg meaning they have registered eight points from five games. They did, however, get off to a solid start in the Champions League, picking up a point away to Inter Milan, while Real Madrid got off to a horrible start with a 3-2 home defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk. This tactical analysis will look to preview the game between Gladbach and Real Madrid, looking at the build-up tactics of both sides and how Gladbach could put another dent in Madrids qualification hopes with some intelligent pressing and build-up play.

Real Madrids build-up

Real Madrid are expected to line up in their 4-3-3 formation as they have in recent fixtures, but regardless of their formation they do have set principles and ideas that seem to overshadow the formation they play in. Within their 4-3-3, as most offensive-minded teams do, they will move their full-backs higher and wider into advanced areas to provide width, while the inside forwards within the 4-3-3 will operate within the half-space. Central striker Luka Jović is tasked with keeping that centrality in the team, meaning he can offer height in the team by attempting to run in behind, as well as offering that natural central pinning that strikers offer.

We can see an example of this below against Shaktar, with Marco Asensio in the half-space while Ferland Mendy looks to create width. Mendy will frequently provide width while also looking to get in behind, and these runs from depth can be useful when breaking down teams with good occupation of the half-space. Ideally, Jović would be in a more central position, as here following a switch in play he hasnt quite adjusted position in order to provide that centrality.

We can see an example here where Real Madrids offensive structure is poor, with the attack again fairly lopsided following a switch in play. Because of this, it becomes the responsibility of Ferland Mendy to offer a penetrative option, which he does well with a pacey run from depth in behind. Occupation of the half-space is vital for Real Madrid in these kinds of situations, as the Betis full-back here only has Mendy to think about, and so, in theory, should be able to just track back with him. Having a player in the half-space in front of this full-back creates a decisional crisis for the full-back as they are occupied in front and behind, and so as a result at least one player can be found freely.

We can see a better exampl