Marca: Real Madrid's Midfield control declines, more passes near sidelines

According to Marca, since last month, Real Madrid's midfield dominance has waned, forcing the team to shift their passing routes from central areas to the flanks. This tactical adjustment has adversely affected the side's overall performance.

Reports indicate that since last month, Real Madrid's midfield has lost its former rhythmic coherence. What was once their method of controlling territory and anchoring numerous matches now appears somewhat hollow. The ball's movement patterns have shifted, no longer frequently traversing the team's central core but increasingly relying on the flanks. In just one month, Xabi Alonso's side has transitioned from internal dominance to a state of isolation along the touchlines.

Statistics corroborate the on-field observations. Against Getafe, Real Madrid completed 327 passes in the opposition half, with 149 in the final third, yet their pass completion rate stood at just 75% – matching their lowest figure in nearly two months alongside the match against Rayo Vallecano. That day, the absence of a clear attacking midfielder – with Guler coming on in the second half to assist Mbappé – left Real Madrid struggling to bridge the gap between defence and attack.

Three days later against Juventus, the side reclaimed control: 393 passes in the opposition half, 212 in the final third, with an 85% success rate. This represented one of the team's most recognisable performances against a struggling opponent, with Tchouaméni and Guler providing stability while Bellingham remained involved in midfield build-up.

Yet this equilibrium was soon disrupted. Against Barcelona (117/79), midfield involvement dipped; against Valencia (473/263), it recovered briefly but proved fleeting. Then came the fixtures at Anfield and against Rayo Vallecano: Real Madrid completed 255 and 191 passes respectively in the opposition half, with a success rate of approximately 73% in the final phase. Yet the number of attacking sequences ending in the final third plummeted from 126 against Valencia to 55 against Rayo Vallecano – a drop exceeding 50%. Whilst ball circulation remained fluid, the lack of penetration was palpable.

The passing map provides an X-ray view of this deeper transformation. Against Getafe, the team maintained compactness, with a clear triangular connection forming between the defensive midfielder and Bellingham, enabling cohesion through midfield. Against Rayo Vallecano, however, the shape stretched out, with Camavinga and Guillerme overlapping positions, leaving Bellingham increasingly isolated. Passing lanes shifted to the flanks. With progress through the centre stifled, the full-backs – Valverde and Carreras – became the new initiators. Midfield cohesion gradually dissipated into a wider yet more fragile network.

This shift coincided with other factors. Tchouaméni's injury absence and Valverde's redeployment at full-back robbed the midfield of its dominance. Meanwhile, Bellingham's advanced positioning became starkly evident in his heatmap. Against Getafe, he would drop back to the starting point of attacks; against Rayo Vallecano, however, he scarcely ventured into that area. His new role granted him greater scoring opportunities but deprived Real Madrid of his function as a link-up point. Within this vacuum, another connection suffered: the interplay between Guler and Mbappé, who in such circumstances required the team to advance through the midfield.

The issue lies not in passing accuracy. The number of misplaced passes in our own half remains stable—ranging between 9 and 17 per match. Real Madrid still prioritise possession, but the ball now circulates far from the areas they once dominated. The approach has changed, and so has the positioning.

The team hasn't lost quality, but it has lost control density. Possession remains in their hands, yet it no longer belongs to them in the same way. Regaining midfield dominance isn't a matter of numbers, but of identity. In this regard, Xabi Alonso has much work to do during this break. He must reconnect the team's various parts; while they still play well, they can no longer launch attacks from the areas where they were most lethal.