Shaky defense costs Real in Juve draw
Print Edition
Real Madrid have spent several hundred million euros assembling one of soccer’s most lethal attacking units, but coach Carlo Ancelotti is still tinkering with a defense that again looked vulnerable in Tuesday’s Champions League 2-2 draw at Juventus.
With 10 points and games at home to Galatasaray and away to FC Copenhagen remaining, Real have reinforced top spot in Group B.
Juventus dropped to last but Copenhagen’s 1-0 home win over Galatasaray means they now trail the Turks and the Danes by one point.
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale playing either side of France striker Karim Benzema in a three-man attack, Real are almost impossible to keep at bay, especially with Ronaldo in such prolific form.
However, they have a less impressive record at the back, where they have managed to prevent their opponents scoring only twice in 12 La Liga outings this season, and once in four games in Europe’s elite club competition.
In Turin, when Ronaldo netted his eighth goal in Europe this term and record signing Bale opened his Champions League account for his new club, Real conceded a fifth penalty in their last three outings in all competitions.
Building a team on the assumption you will always score more than the other side is a precarious foundation on which to mount a challenge for a 10th continental crown and first since 2002.
“We are the first to know that we can give a lot more,” goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas said.
“We have shipped goals in the last few games but we are working... on defense,” he added.
“With our quality we are going to create chances and if we manage to keep a clean sheet we are practically assured of three points.”
Ancelotti opted not to use either of his right backs Alvaro Arbeloa and Dani Carvajal against the Italian champions, instead switching Sergio Ramos over from center back.
Pepe, who has looked nowhere near his imperious best this season, and Raphael Varane played in the middle of the defense, with Marcelo on the left, and it was the inexperienced Varane who gave away the penalty and was at fault for Fernando Llorente’s equalizer.
Ancelotti justified his defensive formation by saying he wanted more power in the air.
“Carvajal and Arbeloa were available but in Madrid, Juventus played a lot of balls to the far post and we had problems,” Ancelotti said.
“Ramos is very good at heading and that’s why he played there (at right back)... it’s a temporary thing.”
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