Brand is never very reliable and is absolutely not when it comes to Real Madrid’s tactical system. On Friday, after Jude Bellingham injured a muscle behind his knee (which will deprive him of a month of competition), the sports daily had announced the return of the 4-4-2 diamond, the Merengues’ system last season, with Rodrygo at number 10 behind Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius. Carlo Ancelotti is indeed looking to better surround the Merengues’ new star striker, who was not very visible during the draw in Mallorca (1-1) last Sunday.
The Italian staff of the Casa Blanca have indeed modified the team’s system for the first time at the Bernabéu, Sunday afternoon for the second day of La Liga. The 4-3-3, used during the European Super Cup against Atalanta and then in the Balearic Islands, was not renewed for the visit of Valladolid. Luka Modric did not replace Jude Bellingham post for post. Real thus switched to 4-2-3-1 with the little surprise of the day: it was not Rodrygo who started at 10, but Arda Güler who was launched in the Madrid starting eleven in support of Mbappé.
Mbappé and Real continue
If the young 19-year-old Turkish star, who shone brightly at Euro 2024 (with an exceptional goal against Georgia), remained in the centre, quite high (without being a playmaker therefore, Aurélien Tchouamanié and Federico Valverde taking charge of initiating the actions), the three stars that are Vinicius, Mbappé and Rodrygo showed themselves to be very mobile during the first period against La Pucela (the nickname of the Valladolid club).
Note that the Spanish clubs will play two matches next week, with a matchday inserted in the middle of the week. The Spanish and European champions will then travel to Las Palmas (in the Canary Islands) before hosting Nabil Fekir’s Real Betis on Sunday evening, the day before the first international window of the season. Mbappé will therefore return to the French team the following day for two first Nations League matches, against Italy and Belgium.
