Five keys to the Champions League final
R
Real Madrid face Liverpool in the Champions
League final in Kiev. Below are five key
tactical factors that could affect the outcome
of Saturday's match.
Can Real handle Liverpool out wide?
Liverpool’s attacking threat hinges largely on
their ability to attack in pairs down the flanks
with speed and directness that several teams
have found impossible to handle this season.
In the knockout phase of this year’s
Champions League, Liverpool have put five
goals past both Porto and AS Roma in single
legs while their three goals in 19 first-half
minutes in the quarter-final, first leg against
Manchester City effectively decided that tie.
On the left, Andy Robertson powers forward
from fullback to give support to the lightning
quick Sadio Mane, meaning it could be a busy
night for Real right back Dani Carvajal.
On the Liverpool right, Trent Alexander-Arnold
can quickly provide a double-threat with the
prolific Mohamed Salah.
What makes that pairing particularly
dangerous to the Spanish side is that Real’s
left back, Brazilian Marcelo, is brilliant going
forward but often absent from defensive
duties.
While Juergen Klopp will hope his team’s
ability down the wings will create scoring
opportunities, it could also have the valuable
side-effect of restricting the forward forays of
Carvajal and Marcelo, who are so important
for Zinedine Zidane’s formation in providing
width to Real’s attacks.
The reverse also applies of course -- if Real’s
wide-men can be effective that could pin back
Alexander-Arnold and Robertson and leave
Salah and Mane more isolated.
So often games are decided in midfield – this
one could well be decided on the wings.
Is Liverpool’s defence capable of neutralising
Ronaldo?
Much has been written and spoken about the
improvement in Liverpool’s previously frail
central defence since the arrival in January of
Dutchman Virgil van Dijk, who has formed an
impressively solid pairing with Croatian Dejan
Lovren.
There is no doubt that the days of hesitation
and confusion at the heart of Klopp’s back
four have gone but will Van Dijk and Lovren be
able to keep out the well-established and
highly effective strike pairing of Karim
Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo?
The pair make up for a lack of devastating
pace with a great understanding and a very
effective use of space.
There has been some talk in the Spanish
media of Zidane opting for Gareth Bale ahead
of Benzema, but while the Welshman would
ask different questions of the Liverpool
defence, there are few strike pairings in world
football that have as good an understanding
with each other as the Portuguese and
Frenchman.
This final will be a supreme test of Liverpool’s
new-found defensive strength.
Will Kroos and Modric be able to control
midfield?
While Liverpool may feel they have the edge
out wide, Real will be hoping that their evident
superior quality in central midfield will prove to
be decisive.
Liverpool’s James Milner and Jordan
Henderson have won plaudits for their hard-
working displays but Real possess two world
class creative midfielders in Toni Kroos and
Luka Modric, who are capable of dominating
possession and providing ammunition for the
Spanish side's attack.
If Zidane’s team can find a way to slow the
game down and concentrate the game in the
centre of the field they will have gone a long
way to nullifying Liverpool’s strengths.
How will Real’s defence cope with Liverpool's
pressing
Real’s backline may not be as shaky as some
suggest but they are not used to playing
against the kind of aggressive pressing that
Klopp’s team deliver.
It will be fascinating to see how they cope. A
key element in handling Liverpool’s relentless
harassment of defenders on the ball is having
a good escape route. Holding midfielder
Casemiro will have to provide that out-ball and
his effectiveness in that duty will be crucial.
He who laughs last, laughs loudest
The final 10 minutes are likely to be even
more decisive than usual in this final.
Real have a habit of playing modestly and then
winning with a late goal -- as in their last-gasp
win over Juventus in the last eight. Liverpool
are sometimes vulnerable late in games after
dominating earlier, as they showed in
conceding two late goals against AS Roma in
the semi-final, second leg.
Don’t think this match is over until referee
Milorad Mazic blows the final whistle.
by: bdnews24
