Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool Review Tacti

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VS Liverpool fought hard to take a one-goal lead away from the Santiago Bernabeau, against a rather ordinary Real Madrid side, leaving the Reds in a solid position for the seond leg. As many expected, the fixture offered a tense game of football in which Yo si Benayoun headed home after 82 minutes, to clinch a crucial winner for the away side. Liverpool go into the home tie knowing a similar performance will guarentee Glenn Hubbard Jersey progre sion into the quater finals; Madrid however, will need to rejuvinate their attacking approach, which appeared downright average, against arguably, the hardest team in Europe to defeat under the cautious Rafael Benitez.The two sides started the game as follows:Real Madrid CasillasRamos Pepe Cannavaro HeinzeGago DiarraRobben MarceloHiguain RaulLiverpool:ReinaArbeloa Skrtel Carragher AurelioMascherano AlonsoBenayoun Kuyt RieraTorresKick OffMadrid began on the front foot and immediately i sued a high defensive line, while pa sing the ball with confidence, while Liverpool seemed to be content with allowing Madrid time on the ball, though ensuring no holes emerged for Madrid to play the final ball through. The prolific Raul turned neatly on the ball from just inside the area early on, only for Pepe Reina to gather the ball up with ease.The first half progre sed into a stalemate Madrid enjoying much po se sion, though simply unable to break Liverpool down. Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso protected the Liverpool defene in instrumental fashion, the former producing a noteably brilliant sliding challenge to halt Higuain in an advance towards goal. The away side were looking to hit Madrid on the break, with the fullbacks roaming forward whenever the oppurtunity presented itself, and Fernando Torres came closest to opening the scoring after capitlising on a defensive blunder by Pepe, only to see his clipped shot diverted expertly over the ball by Iker Casillas.Mascherano: InstrumentalArjen Robben Real Madrids most adventerous outlet in midfield saw two attempts hit the side netting, as Liverpool forced the Matt Olson Jersey Dutchman onto his right foot at al po sible times, with Mascherano and Riera helping to block any marauding runs infield from the former Chelsea winger. Xabi Alonsos effort at goal, a trademark strike from his own half came closer to any of Madrids attempts at goal on the stroke of half time, which Casillas bundled over the cro s bar.The second half continued in the same vein, with Benayoun and Robben coming close, though with the teams seemingly dead-locked, and the tie heading to a nil-nil draw. As the half progre sed, Liverpools influence on the game began to grow, as Madrid seemed to be running out of ideas, as the Reds began to create more openings, with Benayoun and Xabi Alonso proving crucial in offensive play for Liverpool.The winning goal came when Heinze wrestled Dirk Kuyt to the ground just beyond the right hand side of Madrids penalty area. Fabio Aurelios pin-point cro s, coupled with terrible defensive marking from Madrid, allowed Yo si Benayoun to head home the winner and Liverpool closed the game out with Jake Smolinski Jersey ease.Final WhistleTactical AnalysisHow did Liverpools defensive setup halt the fluidity and produtivene s of Real Madrids attacking play?Fundamentaly, Liverpool employed two lines of four, with Riera and Benyoun squeezing the play, ensuring Alonso and Mascherano were never streched, hence also ensuring that very few holes appeared in the Liverpool setup to allow pa ses directly into feet from the centre, for Higuain and Raul to pick up. The aerial prowe s of Skrtel and Carragher meant that balls over the top were swept up with general ease, allowing Alonso to pick up the pieces and progre s the play. Guti came on in the second half for Madrid, in place of Marcelo and employed a more central role in an attempt to increase their creativene s, though this only seemed to le sen Madrids options, due to decreased width, allowing Liverpool to hold their ground.How did Liverpool prevent the pace and tricks of Robben from penetrating their defensive line?ArbeloaMascherano-RobbenRieraHere is the typical scenario on the right hand side of the pitch. Robben was consistantly forced onto his weaker right foot, which prooved to be very unproductive. When Robben did dart inside, Mascherano and Riera were on hand to block his runs, and claim back po se sion for Liverpool. A similar scenario occured for Marcelo, on the left wing.Robben: Dealt with competently.How did Liverpool progre s from such a defensive outlook, to an attacking shape?Alonso--Arbeloa Sean Manaea Jersey -BenayounRiera-AurelioDiarraKuyt-GagoHeinzeCannavaroBabelPepeRamosMadrids wingers seldom tracked back, allowing Liverpools fullbacks to roam forward to great affect, as Madrids central two found themselves overstreched, allowing Liverpool to create openenings within the Madrid midfield, and the uncomfortable demeanor of Pepe and Cannavaro at the back for Madrid did nothing to help their cause.How did Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso nullify the attempts of Gago, Guti and Diarra to controll the game?Defensive state;Alonso--GutiMascheranoGago-DiarraWhen Liverpool were defending with numbers in their own half, the relentle s tyrant that was Mascherano was freed to close down the central two of Madrid, and to break down their play. This also caused them to attempt to move the ball out wide, where Robben and Marcelo were dealt with competently Oakland Athletics Jersey by the Liverpool defence. Alonso ensured nothing was allowed to pa s through the midfield and into the feet of Higuain and Raul. Guti was closely followed whever he drifted, with Benayoun and Alonso stifling his attempts to create from behind the front two.Offensive state:-GutiMascherano--AlonsoWhen Liverpool attacked, Gago and Diarra withdrew deep, thus any counter attacks usually featured Guti as the prominent figure. Mascherano was left behind Alonso to halt the playmaker, which worked wonders as Alonso was given freedom and space to create.The VerdictThe supreme tactical pedigree of Rafael Benitez once again prevailed over one of Europes elite. Liverpool defended with immense concentration, solid teamwork, and in attack, looked the more likely of either side to score. Although neither side could have complained if it had been the case, Liverpool deserved nothing le s than a draw. Credit to their manager, whos rigid, solid and defiant system prooved too much for a rather toothle s Real Madrid, who we