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Real Madrid's Attacking Woes: Can They Fire to Glory?

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Real Madrid's star-studded attack, featuring Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham, is struggling to deliver trophies. Can they overcome their issues and lead the team to glory?



Real Madrid face a daunting task as they host Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. After a 3-0 defeat in the first leg, Los Blancos need a significant turnaround to progress. An early goal could spark a comeback, and Arsenal must be prepared for an intense attack from Real Madrid.


Arsenal have a positive record against Real Madrid in European competition, remaining unbeaten with two wins and one draw. They haven't conceded a goal in their three meetings and could make history by keeping four consecutive clean sheets against the Spanish giants. Mikel Arteta will likely emphasize this statistic to his players, urging them to maintain their defensive solidity.




History Against Los Blancos in the Champions League

Real Madrid face a tough challenge to progress after losing the first leg 3-0. This marks the fifth time they've lost a knockout stage tie by 3+ goals, and they've been eliminated in the second leg in three of the previous four occasions. One notable exception was against Derby County in 1975/76, where they won 6-5 on aggregate after a 1-4 defeat.


In 53 games against English sides in the European Cup/Champions League, Real Madrid have managed to win by more than three goals on just two occasions: 5-1 against Derby County in 1975/76 and 4-0 against Tottenham Hotspur in 2010/11. This highlights the difficulty they may face in overcoming Arsenal's lead.




Despite the challenging history, Real Madrid have a strong record in second-leg home matches. Since the 2015/16 season, they'll be playing their 16th Champions League knockout stage tie at home, and they've only been eliminated once in the previous 15 occasions (vs Ajax in 2018/19). This suggests they have a strong advantage playing at the Santiago Bernabeu.


Furthermore, Carlo Ancelotti's side has been on a roll, progressing from the last eight knockout stage games in a row. Given their history and current form, it's unwise to count Real Madrid out just yet. They have the potential to mount a significant comeback against Arsenal.


Kylian Mbappe has a strong record against English teams in Champions League knockout stages, with eight goal involvements in eight games (seven goals, one assist). Notably, he's been directly involved in five goals in four home games (four goals, one assist). This form could be crucial for Real Madrid's chances against Arsenal.


Vinicius Junior is also in impressive form, with 28 goals and 21 assists. He could become the fourth Real Madrid player to reach 50 goal involvements in the Champions League, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Raul. However, this season, Vinicius, Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo have faced criticism, adding pressure on them to deliver against Arsenal.


Real Madrid's Inconsistent Form

Real Madrid's attack, one of the most feared in European football, has had its share of standout moments this season. However, they've also struggled to deliver in several high-profile matches. Notably, they've suffered significant defeats in two El Clasico games against Barcelona, and with more meetings against their rival on the horizon, Los Blancos will be looking to make amends.


The upcoming matches against Barcelona will be crucial, as the current standings suggest a win for Barca could almost seal the title, while a Real Madrid victory could shake things up and make the end of the 2024/25 season much more intriguing.


Real Madrid's key players will need to perform well in the upcoming matches. Last season, players like Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo delivered impressive numbers, helping the team dominate LaLiga and excel in the Champions League. Bellingham scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists, while Vinicius Jr. topped the scoring charts with 24 goals and nine assists, and Rodrygo contributed 17 goals and eight assists.


This season, Kylian Mbappe has been prolific with 32 goals and four assists. However, his performance in big games has been mixed, including a blank in one Clasico and being relatively quiet in the Emirates match against Arsenal. Mbappe's scoring record has drawn comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo's time in Madrid, where he often scored heavily against weaker teams but had standout moments in crucial games.


Front Three Need to Improve Cohesion

Real Madrid's front three, consisting of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo, have impressive individual statistics. Mbappe's notable performances include a hat-trick against Manchester City and another against Valladolid. However, some of his goals have come against lower-ranked teams, such as Leganes and Las Palmas.


The numbers for the front three are decent, with Vinicius Jr. having 19 goals and 11 assists, Bellingham contributing 13 goals and 12 assists, and Rodrygo scoring 13 goals with nine assists. Despite these individual efforts, there seems to be a lack of cohesion and collective impact from the attacking trio, which could be crucial in big games like the upcoming match against Arsenal.


The lack of cohesion among Real Madrid's front three might be attributed to individual struggles. Vinicius Jr.'s pass completion rate of 77.7% is the lowest on the team, which could affect the attack's overall fluidity. Additionally, the shooting accuracy of Rodrygo (55.4%), Bellingham (53.9%), and Vinicius Jr. (54.6%) needs significant improvement.


Frustration has been evident when the attack creates scoring opportunities but fails to capitalize on them. Bellingham's visible frustration, such as kicking the turf, has become a recurring scene this season. Vinicius Jr.'s positional adjustments, including interchanging with Mbappe, have also presented challenges, potentially disrupting the team's attacking rhythm.


Real Madrid's strikers seem to prioritize scoring over defensive responsibilities. Kylian Mbappe has made only 15 tackles this season, while Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo have made 35 and 45 tackles, respectively. In contrast, Jude Bellingham has been more proactive, making 85 tackles, the most on the team alongside Eduardo Camavinga.


A possible analogy for Real Madrid's current struggles is that the team's machinery isn't running smoothly, unlike the previous season. The signing of Mbappe might have been more about showcasing the club's financial power rather than a carefully considered move to strengthen the team. This approach, reminiscent of the Galactico era, might not have yielded the desired results, leaving the team to work out its issues.




Despite his impressive individual numbers, Kylian Mbappe hasn't led Real Madrid to major success this season. If the team loses the Copa del Rey final, it's possible that Mbappe and his teammates will end the season without any trophies. For a squad boasting one of the world's most celebrated attacks, this outcome would be underwhelming.


The lack of silverware would be a disappointment given the high expectations surrounding Real Madrid's star-studded attack. With such talent on their roster, fans and pundits alike anticipate major titles, making a trophyless season a notable failure.



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