Real Madrid vs Borussia Dormund

Hello Coaches, welcome back after a short break!

In this edition, we take a closer look at the thrilling match between Real Madrid and Dortmund. Enjoy the read – and feel free to share your thoughts or interesting observations in the comments!

⚽Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Yesterday, it looked for a long time like Dortmund might get their revenge for the lost Champions League final at the legendary Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. But as is often the case in football, one good half isn’t enough to leave the field victorious against a team like Real Madrid. The game isn’t over until the final whistle – and anything can happen until then. Once again, Dortmund showed their inconsistency and paid the price for it in the second half. Let’s take a closer look at both halves.

First Half: Strong Performance from Dortmund

Dortmund started the match strongly. With good ball possession and precise passing, they consistently found the open man. Real Madrid, on the other hand, struggled in the opening minutes to make the right decisions off the ball. One key observation: Jude Bellingham often looked to press and put the center-backs under pressure, but his teammates didn’t follow up with enough consistency, leaving gaps in Madrid’s defensive structure that Dortmund cleverly exploited. A standout player in this phase was Felix Nmecha, who enjoyed plenty of space and time in Dortmund’s midfield.

Example from the First Half:

Scene 1: Bellingham presses the center-back, but his teammates don’t follow up as a unit. As a result, Nmecha is left unmarked and has all the time in the world to turn and build up the play.

Scene 2: Once again, Nmecha is left unchallenged and easily plays the ball into the space between the lines to Brandt, while Real Madrid struggles to decide who should mark the Dortmund player – the full-back or the midfielder?

Scene 3: Almost too easy: Nmecha is once again available for a pass and can calmly build up the play.

In contrast, Dortmund defended significantly better. They stayed closer to their opponents, giving Modrić, Bellingham, and Valverde little room to operate. This was particularly evident in the coordinated pressing by Guirassy and Brandt, who disrupted Madrid’s buildup in a staggered formation. Depending on where the ball was played, one would push forward while the other closed off the middle to neutralize Real’s midfielders.

While Real Madrid had some promising offensive moments in the first half, their defensive coordination left much to be desired. As a result, Dortmund went into halftime with a 2-0 lead. But as we all know, you can only count Real Madrid out once the referee has blown the final whistle. This team possesses an indomitable mentality that is unmatched in this competition.

Second Half: Real Turns Up the Heat – Dortmund Loses Focus

In the second half, it was clear that Real Madrid would take more risks and press higher. For Dortmund, the objective was to survive the first 15 minutes and maintain the 2-0 lead. But as we all know, this scoreline often brings a deceptive sense of security in football. Real Madrid emerged from the locker room with renewed energy, and the pressure on Dortmund grew with each passing minute.

Nuri Şahin's first tactical adjustment was the substitution of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in the 55th minute, presumably to gain more defensive stability. However, when Malen had to come off for Pascal Groß in the 64th minute, Dortmund lost two of their most noticeable and dangerous attacking players. Despite the attempt to regain control in midfield with Groß's introduction, they had little ball possession afterward and often resorted to long balls.

It was evident that Şahin was trying to defend the lead rather than actively shape the game. In retrospect, the substitution of Emre Can for Ryerson was also somewhat questionable. Can took over the position of full-back, presumably because Şahin wanted to introduce a fresh player to combat the quick and skillful Vinícius. However, it soon became clear that Can was not comfortable in this position, and Vinícius caused him significant problems with his mobility. Even the switch to a five-man defense did not provide the hoped-for stability.

Scenes from the Second Half:

Scene 1: Despite the five-man defense, Dortmund loses track of the game. A brilliant run from Mbappé, who weaves through the defense, goes untracked. Even with a numerical advantage, Dortmund fails to capitalize on this opportunity.

Scene 2: A rare counter-attack opportunity for Dortmund following a turnover by Vinícius Júnior could have shifted the game back in favor of the visitors, but instead, they conceded a goal on the immediate counter, making it 3-2. After that, their resistance was broken.

The substitutions of Anton, Groß, Can, and Beier did not have the desired effect, while Ancelotti's adjustments – such as substituting Modrić to maintain the tempo – hit the mark perfectly. In the end, the Royals demonstrated not only their technical quality but also their mental strength and experience. Two more goals from Vinícius Júnior sealed the final score at 5-2.

Conclusion: A Game That Requires Courage and Belief

In hindsight, it is always easy to evaluate tactical decisions. However, it is clear that Ancelotti made better adjustments than Şahin. But it wasn't just the substitutions; the atmosphere at the Bernabéu and Real's unwavering belief in victory also played a significant role. Ultimately, it was not only technical and tactical aspects that made the difference but also the mental will that makes Real Madrid so dangerous. What do you think – what could Dortmund's coach have done differently?

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👉 Preview of the Next Post

Tomorrow, we will release the next match analysis, this time focusing on the clash between Barcelona and Bayern Munich. We will take a closer look at how Barcelona managed to secure a victory after a long dry spell – their last win against Bayern was in 2015.

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