Real Madrid have a problem, but it’s a good problem to have. With new acquisition Kylian Mbappe likely to fill the centre-forward void for the Spanish giants, what are the possible systems Carlo Ancelotti could deploy next season?
The Italian coach has managed to storm to La Liga victory this year by installing Jude Bellingham as a No10 in his favoured 4-3-1-2 shape. However, he’ll likely have to use Bellingham differently if Mbappe is to play as a lone striker. Which system would be best?
4-2-2-2
One of the shapes that has led Aston Villa to a top-four race this year has been the 4-2-2-2. Not too dissimilar to Madrid’s current shape, the change would involve Bellingham shifting to a wider position, and Rodrygo joining Mabppe up front.
Mbappe and Vinicius would both enjoy making their runs in behind defences from the left flank, while Federico Valverde would hold the fort alongside the ever-reliable French pivot Aurélien Tchouaméni.
A team who likes to control possession, Real would still be able to make their dangerous midfield box, but it would require Vinicius to play narrower and deeper than he is used to.
Out of possession, it would also require Bellingham to exercise more positional discipline than he has been used to in Spain, tracking the opposition full-back down the wing.
3-box-3
As is the modern trend, Real could also create a midfield box by allowing a defender to push up into central midfield in possession. Last season, midfielder Eduardo Camavinga performed this role, dropping to left-back off the ball, and drifting inside to join his fellow midfielders in possession.
This would be an excellent solution if Ancelotti is desperate to field four traditional midfielders at once. The width would be provided by Vinicius and Rodrygo — and they would have to take a leaf out of Liverpool’s book if they want to ensure these two can still make threatening runs.
However, this formation would potentially be the worst for Mbappe, himself. With Bellingham and Valverde making underlapping runs in the half-spaces, they’ll often create chances through by-line cut-backs. This means their patient possession will have to get them to the six-yard box instead of fast moves with balls in behind the defence. Mbappe is, of course, a player who thrives off darting forward to latch onto a through ball. In this system, he’d essentially be a target man for cut-backs.
In the same way that Richarlison has struggled in Spurs’ system this year, the same might be true of Mbappe in a 3-box-3 at Real.
4-2-3-1
While it may sound rather boring at first, Real’s best solution may actually be a simple 4-2-3-1.
Starting from the front, this shape would ensure Mbappe and Vinicius are both able to make runs in behind, but don’t get in each other’s way. Bellingham would be left in almost exactly the same position as this season. The wingers could stay narrow, as the full-backs play slightly wider in a 4-2-3-1 than they do in a 4-3-3.
The role of the entire back four wode also be extremely similar to their respective roles this year, so they could capitalise on familiarity.
Many teams have opted to man-mark Real Madrid this year, particularly in their initial press. The best shape to man-mark a 4-2-3-1 is a 3-5-2, which is a very difficult system to emulate as a side who usually play with a back four. This means other teams who want to press Real man-for-man would be playing in unfamiliar positions.
Aidan is a football writer whose work on
tactics can be found at TacticallySpeaking
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