Real Madrid don’t know how to make possession count

The match Real Madrid played at Anfield last season made it clear the team wasn’t ready to compete in Europe, a fact Arsenal would later confirm months down the line. A year later, the test in the same stadium, against a Liverpool side under scrutiny after recent losses, leaves the impression that this Real Madrid hasn’t evolved enough, especially when it comes to its players’ attitude both with and without the ball. The style has changed, but the effectiveness has not.

The numbers show two games that differ in some areas, yet share one key similarity when it comes to attacking the opponent’s goal. A year ago, Liverpool took 16 shots; this time, 17 — but with sharper accuracy, as nine were on target, underlining Courtois’s value. Last year, the Belgian conceded twice but made five saves that prevented a rout.

In attack, Madrid replicated last season’s output: seven shots, two on target, though this time without a missed penalty in the mix. The impotence inside the box in Madrid’s last two visits to Anfield contrasts sharply with earlier ones, like the night in 2023 when Benzema led the team to a five-goal performance.

One statistic makes it clear that football is decided in the boxes: possession. Madrid dominated the ball, jumping from 38 percent last season to a sterile 61 this year. They increased their passes from 338 to 482 — yet produced almost no penetration. Liverpool, meanwhile, dropped from 585 to 310 passes but created more chances and looked far more likely to win comfortably.

The players themselves, led by Valverde, spoke afterward about attitude with and without the ball, and rightly so. The reality, though, is that Real Madrid’s style doesn’t suit endlessly circulating possession. Without movement up front, having the ball means little, and that’s something Xabi Alonso still hasn’t managed to instill in his players. A step backward, at least in Europe.

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