UEFA Champions League 2020/21: Inter Milan vs Real Madrid – tactical analysis | OneFootball

This week saw a return to club football after an eventful International break. Going into a taxing run of fixtures that are almost certain to shape up the remainder of the jam-packed calendar, UEFA Champions League came back again. Wednesday night saw the fall of a mighty hero in Diego Maradona before San Siro played spectacle to a marquee clash between Inter Milan and Real Madrid. Both teams needed to win in what was a potential group B deciding match-up.

Inter, in particular, found themselves clinging on for dear life after accumulating a paltry point from three games. Real Madrid were not worse off, yet required the victory to mount a challenge for the top spot with four points in the bag.

Ultimately, the Spanish side triumphed comfortably with a 2-0 margin, plunging Conte’s side into more depths of despair. This tactical analysis will dive into the tactics behind how Zinedine Zidane outdid his counterpart.

Lineups

Inter made a couple of changes compared to their comeback win against Torino at the weekend. Lautaro Martínez returned to the lineup at the expense of ex-Manchester United forward Alexis Sánchez. Meanwhile, Milan Škriniar replaced Andrea Ranocchia in the backline. The man to watch was clearly Romelu Lukaku, who has scored 18 goals in 20 games already.

Real Madrid visited Italy with an unchanged lineup from their La Liga clash against Villareal. Without Sergio Ramos, Nacho Fernandez continued to play makeshift centre-back alongside Raphael Varane. Karim Benzema, their top scorer, was also absent, with Mariano Díaz looking to carry on from his strike on Saturday. The formation was a 4-2-3-1, with Martin Ødegaard filling in the hole behind the striker.

Real’s left spelt danger

Zidane set his team up in the initial stages with a clear plan to attack the opposition’s right flank. Former Madrid player Achraf Hakimi was at the back of a target right from the off. His tendency was to venture forward, often putting his side into danger. As a result, most of Real’s attacks flowed through the left in the early proceedings. Eden Hazard, Ferland Mendy, and Ødegaard enjoyed fruitful possessions throughout the game in that region. It played a crucial part in the opening goal.

Lukaku nullified

After missing the first encounter against Los Blancos, all eyes were on Lukaku, entering the contest bang in form. Compounded to this was the absence of Ramos, without whom Madrid have suffered significantly in the recent past. However, Varane and his troop marshaled the Belgian well. This section will provide an analysis of the reasons that were behind a quiet night for the centre forward.

Inter’s midfield was provided very little joy to run the park in the entire game. They were rarely able to string together meaningful sequences of play in opposing territory. As a result, they often resorted to long balls or rushed crosses into the box. It was comfortably dealt with by Real’s defence. Even when he wanted to cut inside from the right, Lukaku’s usual impact was stifled.

Inter’s sloppiness penalised them

While Zidane’s team deserved the plaudits for a sound shift, Inter were equally responsible for their part in the defeat. The entire backline looked very nervy the whole way through. The holding midfielders did little to boost their confidence. The first goal came as a direct result of a lapse of judgment from Barella. The most substantial blow for the treble winners of 2010, though, occurred when Arturo Vidal received a red card for arguing at the referee. Inter never rallied from it, basically losing the game within the half-hour mark.

Vidal received the ball from the centre-back in a tight-spot. Without showing the fundamental awareness to look before attempting a pass, he nonchalantly sprayed it to his left. Mendy used his pace perfectly when intercepting it and advancing further up. If not for some indecision by the Frenchman, the move would have been a goal, another time gifted by Inter.

Conclusion

In a bid for progression to the knockout stages, the better side ultimately came up with the goods. Zidane can be happy with his side’s performance, but the same does not apply to Antonio Conte.

Real Madrid now sit at seven points from fourth, one behind Borussia Mönchengladbach in group B. A victory will assure their passage to the next stage, which, barring a miracle, should be achieved.

On the other hand, Inter now face the barrels of elimination. They only have a solitary point to their name in four outings in the UEFA Champions League. They are in a must-win situation, a failure of which may not be sufficient for even a place in the Europa League.