Real Madrid Vs Club Brugge The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Club Brugge at home, currently they are 2nd on the leader-board in Champion's league and Madrid are at the bottom. They are at the top of the Belgian league.

The point to note is Club Brugge is still undefeated this season across all competitions.

First I would like to see the 

Injury list:

1.     Asensio

2.     Mendy

Suspended:

1.     None (Nacho and Ramos return from suspension in Champion's league)

Just recovered:

1.     Marcelo (Trained alone)

2.     Isco (no game time yet)

3.     Modric (Played 20+ minutes)

Practiced:

All except the injured lot.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

• Zidane asked to be patient with Hazard

Other Comments:

• Too early for Marcelo, Isco and Modric to start but should be seen as subs

As Mendy is injured and Marcelo has just returned with one practice session with the team under his belt, this could have Nacho in the starting line up. Rest of the defence will remain the same.

So, it will be either Nacho, Ramos, Varane and Carvajal. 

In the goal Courtois is favorite but Areola might as well get a game, providing some rest to Courtois.

As Isco and Modric are clear choices for substitution having just recovered from injury.

So, mid-field will have Kroos, Casemiro and James. If Madrid leads Casemiro will be subbed by Valverde.

Hazard, Benzema and Bale should start. And will have Vinicius and Jovic as substitutes for Hazard and Benzema.

So the effective line up should be:

    

Update: No Bale or James in the Squad

With the Squad news:

So the final starting 11 will be:

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is the 'El Derby' against the city rivals Atletico Madrid and away from home, currently they are 3rd on the leader-board and Madrid on top.

The point to note is Atleti has lost just one match this season.

First I would like to see the injury list:

1.     Asensio

2.     Mendy

Suspended:

1.     None

Just recovered:

1.     Marcelo (One training session with the group)

2.     Isco

3.     Modric

Practiced:

All except the injured lot.

Skipped Practice:

Rodrygo, trained with Castilla

Coach Comments:

•  Zidane: “You ask me about two players but what interests me is the group. Karim is important for the team, not just for his goals. Casemiro gives a lot of balance, but not only that. Everyone contributes something to the team in their own way on the field”
• On Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr., Zidane: “They’re completely different, but both are good. They play differently. They want to progress and improve. They are very young".
• Zidane: “Lucas Vázquez looks in great form to me, that’s for sure".
• Zidane: "Of course everyone’s expectations are high with Hazard. I don’t doubt him a second”
• Zidane: “Modric, Isco and Marcelo all feel better. We’ll see tomorrow”

Other Comments:

• Bale rested for Atletico clash this weekend, should be back
• Too early for Marcelo, Isco and Modric to start but should be seen as subs

As Mendy is injured and Marcelo has just returned with one practice session with the team under his belt, this could have Nacho in the starting line up. Rest of the defence will remain the same.

So, it will be either Marcelo/Nacho, Ramos, Varane and Carvajal. 
As Marcelo's injury was a sprain, I would start him instead of Nacho.

As Isco and Modric are clear choices for substitution having just recovered from injury.

So, mid-field will have Kroos, Casemiro and James. 

Hazard, Benzema and Bale should start. And will have Vinicius and Jovic as substitutes for Hazard and Benzema.

So the effective line up should be:

    

As Marcelo is not in the Squad Nacho is to start on the Left.

Real Madrid Vs Osasuna: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against the Osasuna at home, currently they are 10th on the leader-board and Madrid on 3rd.

The point to note is Osasuna is still unbeaten this season.

First I would like to see the injury list:

1.     Asensio

2.     Mendy

Suspended:

1.     None

Just recovered:

1.     Marcelo

2.     Isco

3.     Modric

Practiced:

All except the injured lot.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

•  Players need to be fully fit and take enough training sessions

  

Other Comments:

•  Bale rested for Atletico clash this weekend
• Too early for Marcelo, Isco and Modric to start

So, there are going to be at least two changes as Bale and Mendy are not in the squad.

As Mendy is injured, this would have the same Mendy replaced by Nacho. Rest of the defence will remain the same. Though I would have liked Odriozola to start in place of Carvajal, but Zidane probably wont gamble, given the defence had just performed the best in the last match.

Mid-field will start with Casemiro and Valverde will substitute him in the second half to keep him ready and give some rest for next match.

So mid-field will have Kroos, Casemiro and James.

Hazard, Benzema and Lucas V should start. And will have Vinicius and Jovic as substitutes for Hazard and Benzema.

So the effective line up should be:

    

Sevilla Vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against the Sevilla away from home, currently they were on the top of the leader-board and Madrid on 3rd.

First I would like to see the

injury list:

1. Isco
2. Modric
3. Asensio
4. Marcelo

Suspended:

1. None

Just recovered:

1. Valverde

Practiced:

All except the injured lot. And except Asensio others on the injury list trained on their own which means they too are ready to comeback in the next week.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

1. No comments on players but seems Odriozola might start.

So it seems the line up with PSG will remain with Ramos returning for Militao, and Odriozola replacing Carvajal, as he seems out of gas and needs the much needed rest. But knowing Zidane he might as well start Carvajal seeing the crucial nature of the game.

So  the line up seems Hazard to start on the left but will have a backup in Vinicius. It could as well be other way around, where Vinicius starts and Hazard replaces him, as that will give the team a much needed flow on the start, which is missing with Hazard starting and remaining disconnected with the mid-field.

With Bale certain to start on the right and switch to left time to time. James has been playing well and with most of the other mid fielders injures is certain to play behind Benzema.

Kroos and Casemiro will control the game in the mid.

With the poor display against PSG defence will see a lot of changes Mendy, Ramos, Varane and Odriozola  will be tested this time, Odriozola might get some game time at last.
The final starting 11 should be:

But instead of Odriozola Carvajal plays as was expected .

And the subs should be: Vinicius, L Vazquez and Jovic unless there are any forced substitutions.

PSG Vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11 Post Match

The team started with the predicted starting 11, and as believed it was the best option available.

Even the subs were as expected, only James went out instead of Benzema as there were requirement of 2 goals.

The analysis is fairly simple, Real were poor in every department, attack, mid-field, defence and goal keeping.

They started well in the first few minutes, controlling ball and moving forward.

In my opinion PSG were more confident and got luck with the first goal, the break was there but both defence and goal keeper should have done better.

Even after the 14th minute goal team was fine, seemed deflated a bit but were still creating chances but not able to shoot on the target. Forwards were getting frustrated, mid-field was slowing down and getting tired, but once the 2nd goal happened in the 33rd minute the team just lost hope. And this goal was because defence just gave enough space, the marking was not off, but the pressing was too poor.

Clear indication from the game that Kroos just wanted to give the ball to James even when he was not ready. Kross passed many random passes which is generally not the case, he was not in control for most of the game. He kept making wrong judgements, mostly due to 

• Lack of coordination with James, Hazard and at times with Casemiro (lack of trust and self-confidence to hold)
• Good pressing from PSG all throughout

Errors in midfield were common, they were not controlling the game. They were just going with the pace, and lack of trust and confidence was visible.

The defence was not bad, but were always caught chasing the ball, the players need to be in sync and defence should be more like one unit, in case of problem goal keeper should be involved. But Courtois was not guiding the defensive play, he needs to be the organizer and provide direction to be solid at the back.

Attack were fizzling out due to mid-fields wrong passes and lack of penetration.

2nd half was even worse, Casemiro was in attack and no one was trying to recover the ball, he seemed too slow to go back. James till he was there showed intent and played well but was not able to connect well with the other two.

Attack was okay and were able to push the PSG defence and mid-field back but they lacked goals to show their finishing skills. So, finishing is still a worry, even when they scored were ruled out by VAR (twice) and rightly so.

Need to improve on all dimensions and more on showing intention of playing, else the season is over.

Finishing: 0⭐ (0 out of 10 )

Creativity and control: 6⭐ (47% Possession and 10 chances and 2 goals ruled out.) 

Chances created: 7⭐( 10 chances vs 9 shots for PSG)

Passing: 8⭐(85% accuracy)
No Loose Balls: 2⭐ ( Several ball losses and easy counter attacking options)
Defensive Coordination: 3⭐( 2 goals due to defensive lapses and 3 corners)
Goal Keeping: 1⭐ (All misses no )
Over all: 3⭐ (Very Bad)

PSG Vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against the PSG in Paris, they too have several injury and form worries themselves.

Current Squad Declared with Uefa:

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2020/clubs/club=50051/squad/

(Source: Uefa.com)

First I would like to see the injury list:

1. Isco
2. Modric
3. Asensio
4. Valverde
5. Marcelo

Suspended:

1. Ramos 
2. Nacho

Just recovered:

1. Jovic 
2. James
3. Hazard
4. Brahim Diaz
5. Rodrygo

Practiced:

All except the injured lot.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

1. Hazard to start " BBH Sounds good"
2. Benzema to be the leader without Ramos and Marcelo.

So the line up seems Hazard to start on the left but will have a backup in Vinicius.

With Bale getting rest in la liga is certain to start on the right and switch to left time to time. James has been playing well and with most of the other mid fielders injures is certain to play behind Benzema.

Kroos and Casemiro will control the game in the mid.

With the suspension and injuries Mendy, Militao, Varane and Carvajal remain the defensive force, Odriozola might get some game time as several injuries would weaken the PSG forward a bit.

The final starting 11 should be:

And the subs should be: Vinicius, L Vazquez and Jovic

Marcelo Injury Update: 16 Sep 2019

Marcelo Injury Update:

Post-traumatic cervicodorsal injury: 

Expected time out:

 2-3 weeks (If Minor)
 4-6 weeks (In general)


Details:
https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2019/09/marcelo-medical-report?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organico


Source: Realmadrid.com

Real Madrid Vs Levante: The Starting 11 Post Match

I Suggested the following starting 11:

Zidane had slightly different plan. He made just one change

Started Vinicius instead of Hazard on the left.

All other changes were during the match and were 

Casemiro was replaced by Hazard (Casemiro was tired and had a long flight and jet lag) and this meant James had to drop to the centre deeper.

Ramos with slight discomfort went out and Militao replaced him (Like for Like, and a cautionary substitution looking ahead into the next matches)

Benzema was replaced by Jovic (Again another Like for like change) and giving some more for the new and recovered player to get adapted to the new side, at the same time give some rest for Benzema.

If we analyze Real are still loose in the back and the defenders are not consolidating their usual authority. With Casemiro it is slightly stronger than with any other holding mid-fielder replacing him. 

Final comment for the team after the match is 

Finishing: 5⭐ (11 out of 25 shots on target, 4 offsides)

Creativity and control: 8⭐ (65% Possession and 11 shots on target) 

Chances created: 9⭐( 9 corners vs 6 for Levante, 11 shots on target vs 3 shots for Levante)

Passing: 9⭐(90% accuracy)
No Loose Balls: 3⭐ ( Several ball losses and easy corner leading to goal)
Defensive Coordination: 4⭐( 2 goals due to defensive lapses and 6 corners)
Goal Keeping: 6⭐ (90+2 minute save, otherwise ordinary)
Over all: 6⭐ (Not bad but 45 minutes of good football and 45 minutes of poor work)

A lot to improve on finishing and defensive coordination.

Real Madrid Vs Levante: The Starting 11

Real Madrid Vs Levante: The Starting 11 on 14th Sep 2019

From now on I will try to post the probable 11 for Real Madrid that will start in each match.

The upcoming match is against the Levante, who are currently positioned 4th and have won last two matches in La Liga.

First I would like to see the injury list:

1. Isco
2. Modric
3. Asensio
4. Valverde

Suspended:

1. Bale (Red card)

Just recovered:

1. Jovic 
2. James
3. Hazard
4. Brahim Diaz
5. Rodrygo

Practiced:

All except the injured lot, Casemiro, Militao and Vinicius had just one practice session.

Skipped Practice:

None

Coach Comments:

1. Hazard to play but need to be careful
2. Vinicius has his confidence, but need to mature

So the line up seems Hazard to start but will play for 60 mins or so, and will be replaced by Vinicius.

With Bale not available the right wing should be owned by Vinicius, but as there are other injury worries Vinicius will only be used as a substitute and Lucas Vazquez will start in the right. With James starting in the middle behind Benzema, and moving right on occasions.

With this inputs I see the Zidane favorites to start, No Mendy,  Odriozola, Nacho, Militao, Mariano or Areola unless any injuries or sending off.

The final starting 11 should be:

And the subs should be: Vinicius, Brahim and Jovic

If Real go 2,3 goals up then Kroos will be subbed by an additional defender and Mariano might come in as well.