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<\/a><\/p>\nReal Madrid\u2019s fullbacks had dual roles: jump onto the opposite fullback when Real Sociedad funnelled the play toward one of the flanks or operate zonal and provide the overload at the backline when the play is channeled to the opposite side.<\/p>\n
From goalkicks, Vinicius Jr joined Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 to press the center-backs, while Arda G\u00fcler and Jude Bellingham monitored the double pivots.<\/p>\n Jude Bellingham started central and drifted across, only when the goalkeeper played to Herrera. Real Sociedad\u2019s pivot picked out Su\u010di\u0107, who was tightly pressed from behind by Fede Valverde. A loose touch from Su\u010di\u0107 triggered Valverde to go full gear and prod the ball to Mbapp\u00e9, who set Vinicius Junior in front of the goal:<\/p>\n Real Madrid\u2019s old, well-known problems persisted. Here, Vinicius Junior communicated with Arda Guler to handle the center-back, while the Brazilian took charge of Turrientes.<\/p>\n As Mbapp\u00e9 cut off the passing lane between the goalkeeper and Beitia, Vinicius let his man shift freely across. As a consequence, the visitors could find that entry pass to break down Real Madrid\u2019s first line of press.<\/p>\n Vinicius headed toward the far-side center-back, whereas Carreras and Bellingham marked Aramburu and Su\u010di\u0107. Turrientes moved toward the ball side without being followed by Mbapp\u00e9. Hence, the visitors could access Turrientes unmarked behind Bellingham via a third-man combination:<\/p>\n Once Real Sociedad broke down the first line of pressure due to a lack of intensity and awareness, Real Madrid\u2019s dominoes fell apart.<\/p>\n The lack of pressure and urgency allowed the ball holder to target the opposite and underloaded side and spaces behind Real Madrid\u2019s defensive line:<\/p>\n Not only that, but Real Madrid\u2019s slow retreat from some players, notably Vinicius, enabled Real Sociedad to exploit the weak side of the white team.<\/p>\n Here, Oyarzabal is comfortable in receiving and assessing his options. In the end, he pings the ball over the top toward the back post, where Gomez pulled off a powerful shot:<\/p>\n As aforementioned, Real Madrid\u2019s ball-side fullback tended to jump on his opposite fullback.<\/p>\n In a moment of miscommunication between Guler and Dumfries, Sergio Gomez found himself in large space with time on the ball to clip it over the top. Konat\u00e9 misreads Ochieng\u2019s intentions, so the latter could figure out a shooting angle. However, the French striker was able to block off the shot.<\/p>\n In the meantime, Carreras shifted to the space around the penalty area to cover Kubo. However, Su\u010di\u0107 came late from behind without being tracked back to power the loose ball home.<\/p>\n In the second half, Arda G\u00fcler was no longer marking Turrientes, as he shifted to occupy the opposite fullback; Valverde stepped up to handle Guler\u2019s initial reference, whereas Dumfries narrowed inside to monitor the opposite winger. Marc Cucurella had a dual role, which resided in stepping out toward the opposite right-back when the play was directed to Real Madrid\u2019s left side and withdrawing to his position to maintain overload across the backline when the ball is on the opposite side.<\/p>\n In this scene, Vinicius Junior forced the goalkeeper to play to Sergio Gomez, who was marked by Arda G\u00fcler, which was the change Mourinho mentioned in his post-match interview, with Valverde jumping onto Turrientes, whereas Dumfries held his position, keeping tabs on Ochieng.<\/p>\n Dumfries intercepted Gomez\u2019s inside pass and regained possession. Real Madrid had numbers around the ball. So with a give-and-go, Dumfries ran beyond the left-back and offered himself for Guler to slide the pass between Martin and Gomez.<\/p>\n Mbapp\u00e9 and Vinicius dragged the backline toward the goal, so Bellingham could arrive late in the box.<\/p>\n Real Madrid had issues when defending in a zonal block, as well. Los Blancos sat in a 4-2-3-1 medium block as well.<\/p>\n When Sociedad broke down Madrid\u2019s first line because of insufficient intensity in jumps and channeled the play to the flanks, Mourinho\u2019s team\u2019s ball-side pivot shifted across, while the far-side pivot covered the half-space and the out-in passing lanes.<\/p>\n In this example, Bernardo Silva and Valverde work in tandem to drive the right-back to a central trap and swarm around him to regain possession.<\/p>\n Carreras collects the loose ball and immediately finds Vinicius Jr in a high position. Both Mbapp\u00e9 and Guler are in good rest attack situations. Mbapp\u00e9 attacks depth with Vinicius Junior setting him up in front of the goal, while Guler runs freely around Turrientes to penetrate the box.<\/p>\n The Turkish midfield was in a good place for the tap-in; however, Mbapp\u00e9 drives at goal with his head down, looking to shoot.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n