Real Madrid play best as a 4-3-3 which could also be viewed as a 4-1-2-1-2, usually
depending on where Isco plays.
The attacking midfielder is versatile and can either pull
strings from in the hole or play in a deeper midfield role.
The forward line is equally versatile: Real play Karim Benzema as a central
striker, but he can be paired with Ronaldo as
a pair of strikers with Isco behind, or centrally between two players who pull wide or drop
into space.
[PIC 1 and 2] Defensively, as they showed against Barcelona
in the Spanish Super Cup, Real’s 4-3-3 tends very easily into a 4-5-1 as a low block.
The block is deep, narrow, and vertically compact,
which protects the centre-backs and allows Casemiro to screen the space in between the
lines while still protected by four midfielders in a line.
[PIC 3 and 4] When Real’s opposition have the ball higher,
they press.
Real like to press high and aggressively in a W shape, with the opposition
centre-backs covered by men and either the wingers of the 4-3-3 or even the full-backs
pushing high.
This both forces the opposition to play centrally and congests this space, making
it hard to play through Real Madrid’s line.
[PIC 5 and 6] In midfield, either Casemiro or Mateo Kovacic
occupy the central spot, with a remit to drop off and screen the centre-backs.
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric tend to stay reasonably flat if
playing behind Isco or Asensio; the Spanish attacking midfielder is the one who moves
into the space between the lines and drifts wide,
while Kroos and Modric play weighted, flat passes trying to play the front three into
space.
[PIC 7 and 8] Against teams who drop off, both midfielders
engage in the press and this creates almost a
2-1-4-3 as Rea Madrid aggressively move up and compress the space.
Modric’s ability to carry the ball and Kroos’ wonderful range
of passing mean that Real Madrid are especially dangerous when counter-pressing, as they can
bring the ball into dangerous areas and flood the opposition box on the counter.
[PIC 9 and 10] Again, Casemiro, who has made 3.9 tackles
per 90 this season without being dribbled past
once, and 2.8 interceptions per 90, is key to this.
He keeps the base of the press solid, protects the centre-backs by hoovering up
any balls that fall into the area ahead of them,
and rarely gives the ball away.
The Brazilian has made 46.1 accurate short passes per 90 so
far this season, and only 2.8 inaccurate short passes.
He is tidy and recycles the ball to his more august midfield colleagues.
[PIC 11 and 12]​ Primarily, Casemiro feeds Kroos, who forms
a passing triangle with Ramos and Marcelo on
the left-hand side of Real Madrid’s defence, ensuring that once the Brazilian has given
the ball to the German playmaker, Madrid can advance
down their preferred flank.
[PIC 13] Casemiro is the glue that holds Madrid’s
midfield together, releases its more creative players, and allows it to push high and counter-press
aggressively.
Whether in a 4-3-3 or a midfield diamond formation, Casemiro’s presence
in the centre and at the base of the midfield three or diamond protects the centre-backs
and lets Kroos and Modric get on with what they do best, carrying or passing the
ball into dangerous areas for Isco, Asensio, Benzema and Madrid’s other attackers.
While the stars get the plaudits, Real Madrid have
finally found an heir to Claude Makelele and once again, the Bentley has an engine.