Villarreal planned to target Marcelo ahead of Real Madrid clash

It's no secret that Marcelo's defensive work isn't his shining attribute, and Villarreal coach Luis Garcia created a game plan to target the Brazilian ahead of the midweek draw with Real Madrid.

Samuel Chukwueze has been one of the revelations of the LaLiga Santander season, and Garcia positioned the Nigerian on the right flank by in order to fully exploit Marcelo's defensive frailties.

"Real Madrid have many great strengths, far more than flaws, but we worked to create specific problems for them," Garcia explained in his post-match interview in the mixed zone.

"Marcelo is alongside Jordi Alba, the best attacking player [in his position] in the world, but going backwards..."

It would be Chukwueze who would have a sizable impact on the match as he forced a key save out of Thibaut Courtois which could have put the hosts 1-0 up, and he continued to supply Santi Cazorla with chances.

As well as seeking to exploit Marcelo's deficiencies, Garcia hoped his strategy would prevent the former Fluminense defender from linking up with Gareth Bale in attack.

It was this pairing which worked so effectively for Los Blancos in the Club World Cup in December, but Chukwueze's work meant Marcelo couldn't bomb forward with his usual reckless abandon.

Through the middle Cazorla and Pablo Fornals were tasked with dragging Casemiro further to the left-hand side of the pitch, which left Marcelo isolated and allowed the Nigerian sensation to run at him uninhibited by the presence of a defensive midfielder.

Bale's unwillingness to work in the defensive phase of the game further contributed to the effectiveness of the hosts' game-plan and Villarreal could easily have come away with all three points.