# Real Madrid

By [marknelson](https://paragraph.com/@marknelson) · 2024-10-10

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Against Villarreal, Carlo Ancelotti experimented with a 4-2-2-2. This is how his players lined up without the ball.

The big differences from the default setup are emphasis defending the central zone-a clear 4-2-2-2 rather than 4-4-2-and only a pair in attack; Rodrigo was exchanged for an extra midfielder.

This helped contain Villarreal's potent attack-ambiguously speaking, before the match with Real, they scored in every game. But the attack is still in disarray-the usual intention to overload the left side of the field is there.

But Madrid creates fewer of these moments than we are used to. Instead, we too often see a mutual misunderstanding instead of combinations. For example, here - during the episode the players pulled together on one line - in such a position it is almost impossible to combine.

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*Originally published on [marknelson](https://paragraph.com/@marknelson/real-madrid-1)*