5 reasons Real Madrid won't reach the UEFA Champions League final in 2018

#1 Issues with defense

Shaky defence

Real Madrid have conceded more goals in La Liga this season than Barcelona and Atletico Madrid combined. Injuries to Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Keylor Navas and the likes at various stages of the season have plagued Real Madrid.

As good as he is defensively, Casemiro lacks confidence on the ball, making Real vulnerable to a high pressing team like Tottenham. Real’s heavy reliance on fullbacks for creativity has also left them vulnerable to lightning-paced counter-attacks.

It doesn’t help that Real isn’t suited to hold on to the ball and kill off the game after taking a lead. When they lose the ball, Real Madrid players hardly make efforts to initiate a counter press.

With the fullbacks and the midfielders mostly of offensive orientation (except for Casemiro), this leaves Real Madrid extremely vulnerable to counterattacks. Ronaldo and Bale on either wing don’t make good cover either if you are a Real Madrid fullback hoping to be protected by your winger.

In previous seasons, this simply didn’t matter; Real Madrid outscored the opposition week in, week out. This season, the chance conversion rate has steeply fallen, and Real’s attackers can no longer bail out their defenders on a constant basis.

Salah, Sane, Lewandowski, Messi and the likes would certainly be happy at the prospect of taking on this Real Madrid defence.