At halftime in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are tied 1-1. Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 4th minute, but Julián Álvarez equalized for Atlético in the 32nd minute. While Real Madrid showed glimpses of their attacking strength, they made several key mistakes in the first half that prevented them from maintaining control of the game.
1. Defensive Vulnerabilities
Real Madrid's backline struggled to contain Atlético’s attack, with Ferland Mendy (3.6), Rüdiger (4.0), and Asencio (4.1) underperforming. Despite Atlético managing only 3 shots, one of them led to a goal due to poor defensive positioning. The defenders failed to track Álvarez’s movement in the box, allowing him to find space and score the equalizer. Thibaut Courtois (3.7) also had a relatively quiet half but couldn't prevent the goal.
2. Lack of Midfield Control
Despite having a high pass accuracy (93%), Real Madrid’s midfield struggled to dictate the tempo of the game. Camavinga (3.4) and Tchouaméni (3.5) were unable to dominate possession, allowing Atlético to edge them out with 54% ball control. Their inability to break Atlético’s defensive shape resulted in a lack of creativity in attack, as no big chances were created in the first half.
3. Ineffective Attack
Although Real Madrid has attacking stars like Kylian Mbappé (3.9) and Vinícius Júnior (3.8), they failed to generate clear goal-scoring opportunities apart from Rodrygo’s early strike. With only 5 shots and 3 on target, the attack lacked sharpness. The team struggled to break Atlético’s compact defense, and their forward play often lacked the final pass needed to create dangerous chances.
What Needs to Change in the Second Half?
Real Madrid must improve their defensive organization to prevent further lapses. Their midfield needs to be more aggressive in controlling possession and creating opportunities. Lastly, their attacking players must be more clinical in front of goal to secure a win before the second leg.
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