5 reasons why Real Madrid failed in the El Clasico

#5 Zidane’s tactics

Zidane could have gone with a different approach to the game considering Barcelona’s iffy form

Zidane’s footballing pedigree and achievements cannot be questioned or doubted. Madrid have been excellent under the Frenchman, having won the Champions League, Super Cup, and the Club World Cup. Zidane brought life back to the Bernabeu after some really insipid and lifeless displays under former manager Rafael Benitez.

But having said all this, he hasn’t brought any style of play to Madrid or tactical change in the way the team plays.

Barcelona were struggling for form and consistency, and it would have made more sense if Zidane approached the game in a different manner by fielding Isco, Asensio and James Rodriguez right from the start in place of Kroos, Bale and Benzema and, playing Ronaldo centrally. It would have given Madrid more mobility and control on the pitch.

Another instance when Zidane’s tactics were bewildering was after his team levelled the match with 10 men and had only a couple of minutes until the final whistle, but Madrid bombed forward in search of a winner, when the sensible thing to do would have been to just pass the ball around and secure a point.

Madrid have won only one title in the past eight seasons, and are now in danger of blowing another league title. If it does that end up to be the case, then the Clasico defeat would be the main reason for it – and it was a defeat that could have been avoided.