With the 4-2-2-2 diagram and many new experiments, Ancelotti found himself searching for a solution to the problem of optimizing his star-studded squad.
Real Madrid continued to maintain stable performance with a gentle 3-0 victory over Leganés in round 14 of La Liga on the morning of November 25 (Hanoi time). Three points can help “Los Blancos” shorten the gap with Barcelona to 4 points, giving lotus hope in the championship race.
But the real highlight lies not only in the results but also in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s bold tactical adjustments – especially the way he exploited the pair of Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr.
Ancelotti and bold experiments
In the match against Leganés, Carlo Ancelotti decided to use a surprising 4-2-2-2 tactical formation. The defensive midfielder duo Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos are guaranteed to take on the “launching pad” role from the backline, while Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler are arranged to play more automatically in the attacking midfield. In attack, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé play as a pair of strikers.
The notable point is the flexibility in how the team operates. When attacking, Real Madrid quickly converted into a 4-3-3 formation, with Gülert on the right stomach to expand space and support the forward line. This chemical transformation remembers the formation that brought great success to Manuel Pellegrini at Villarreal, an approach that optimizes versatile players.
One of Ancelotti’s most notable adjustments in this match was the arrangement of Mbappé to play on the left wing – his preferred position at PSG – while Vinicius, who is considered the best left winger, In the current world, he was pushed into the center to play as the center forward.
This test immediately raised mixed opinions. Vinicius proved his worth on the left wing with his speed, technique and penetrating ability. When placed in the middle, the Brazilian striker often had difficulty facing Leganés’ dense defense, where the space and time to handle the ball was significantly narrowed. On the contrary, even though Mbappé played quite freely on the left wing, he did not leave too strong an impression.
Although the goal in the match came from the combination of these two stars – Vinicius won the ball and assisted Mbappé to score – Ancelotti’s experiment was arguably still not completely convincing. Against a weak opponent like Leganés, placing Vinicius in the slot does not bring obvious results and can reduce the danger on the left wing – the area that has been the fulcrum of Real Madrid’s recent successes.
Positive signs from the midfield
Although the attack still has many problems, Real Madrid’s midfield shows positive signs thanks to the smooth coordination between Camavinga and Ceballos. Camavinga continues to prove himself as a “lung” of the team, with strong tackling ability and effective ball distribution. Meanwhile, Ceballos – a rarely used player – surprised with his mature performance and ability to connect between lines.
Besides, Bellingham continues to assert his value as a playmaker. The English player not only excels in coordinating the ball but also contributes a lot to defending from afar. Along with Arda Güler, Bellingham brings diversity to Real Madrid’s attacks.
Although the victory over Leganés helped Real Madrid maintain their exciting momentum, this is clearly just a small test. A bigger challenge awaits “Los Blancos” when they face Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League on November 28.
In matches like this, where high-speed counter-attacking play is the key to success, Real Madrid needs to fully exploit the speed and skills of Mbappé and Vinicius. However, when facing low-defense opponents like Leganés, Ancelotti must consider more carefully how to arrange the squad.
Pushing Vinicius into the center could cause Real Madrid to lose a powerful weapon on the left wing. The same thing happened with Mbappe. How to make these two spearheads explode together is a problem that Ancelotti needs to find a solution for soon.
A possible solution is to bring Vinicius back to his natural left wing, so that he can continue to create mutations from the sideline, while Mbappé plays as a center forward or a back striker, similar to how Benzema used to play. This will help Real Madrid make the most of the abilities of both stars, while maintaining balance in gameplay.
The 3-0 victory over Leganés brought joy to Real Madrid fans but at the same time left big questions about tactics. The 4-2-2-2 formation and the role swap between Mbappé and Vinicius are interesting but not entirely convincing experiments.
Carlo Ancelotti, with his experience and talent, certainly understands that matches like this are just a stepping stone. The real test will come when Real Madrid meet stronger opponents, where every tactical detail can decide success or failure.