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The month of August marks the return of European football and the Spanish La Liga for yet another gripping season keeping millions of viewers glued to their television screens across the world.
Since taking charge in 2013, Carlo Ancelotti has already won three major finals with Los Blancos; the Copa Del Rey against Barcelona, the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla and the much coveted Champions League last season destroying Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich; albeit they missed out on capturing the La Liga title. The last season also witnessed the Spanish La Liga giant’s transition from a counter attacking team under Jose Mourinho to a more possession based team under Carlo Ancelotti.
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The world’s richest football club has always been known for having a star studded squad, which gets even more highlighted with Ancelotti’s latest signing of the World Cup sensation James Rodriguez. Moreover, the inclusion of Toni Kroos as a deep lying midfielder from Bayern Munich also increases the depth of the Real Madrid squad for the upcoming 2014/15 season.
Transfers
In: Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Monaco), and Keylor Navas (Levante)
Out: Nuri ?ahin (Borussia Dortmund), Álvaro Morata (Juventus) and Jesús Fernández (Levante)
Loaned Out: Casemiro (FC Porto) and Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal)
Squad
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Diego López and Iker Casillas
Defenders: Raphaël Varane, Fábio Coentrão, Sergio Ramos, Daniel Carvajal, Pepe, Nacho, Marcelo and Álvaro Arbeloa.
Midfielders: Asier Illarramendi, Isco, James Rodríguez, Toni Kroos, Luka Modri?, Ángel di María, Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso and Gareth Bale.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Jesé Rodríguez.
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti is not a coach with fixed philosophies. In his first season with Real Madrid, we saw the successful Italian manager playing a number of formations including the much preferred 4-3-3 and also a 4-2-2, which he employed against Bayern Munich to perfection.
When Pep Guardiola believed he had Real Madrid tousled in his own backyard, the 55 year old maestro showed him why he was chosen to succeed Mourinho to bring Los Blancos their first Champions League triumph since 2002.
Ancelotti believes in the traditional possession based football, which had earned Real Madrid an overall possession of 56% in the 2013/14 La Liga season. (http://bit.ly/1oru6e8)
This year he has further strengthened his attacking midfield with the inclusion of Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich and Brazil 2014 sensation James Rodríguez, who can provide the much needed support to the lightning fast wingers Ronaldo and Bale.
In addition to building up his attacking options the successful Italian has apparently ended the goal keeping dilemma at Santiago Bernabeu with the signing of Keylor Navas from Levante.
With a host of talented galácticos in his backyard, Carlo Ancelotti definitely has a challenging job in deciding the best playing XI for Real Madrid; and if money can buy happiness, the three time UCL winning manager should be very pleased with a squad valued at about £400m at the start of the 2014/15 season.
Formations and Tactics
The 4-2-3-1 formation
Carlo Ancelotti could very well play the 4-2-3-1 formation, especially to accommodate the arrival of World Cup 2014 sensation James Rodríguez.
The 23 year old Colombian International, mainly with his with superb ball skills and brilliant shooting abilities, would be comfortable playing as a Trequartista, his best position behind the striker, Benzema. Add the electric pace and skill of Ronaldo and Bale alongside him and Ancelotti has one of the most powerful attacking units.
Karim Benzema should be contented playing as the lone striker in addition to keeping the defenders glued to him thereby creating some space for Bale and Ronaldo to attack the opposition goal mouth.
The 4-2-3-1 formation could feature the back four as Daniel Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Fábio Coentrão.
Toni Kroos and Luka Modri? look good to man the central midfield and provide the extra cover to the defence as and when required.
The talking point however would be with the left side of Real Madrid. Whilst Gareth Bale, having already played as a left back for his former club Southampton, is likely to track back and provide support on the right side to Carvajal and Kroos; Cristiano Ronaldo is not known to do so, thereby leaving Luka Modri? and Coentrão on the left side working under increased pressure and very less room for error.
The 4-3-3 formation
In the much favored 4-3-3 formation the last four remains unchanged with Daniel Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo.
Sergio Ramos looks likely to team up with the temperamental and aggressive Pepe in the central defence. Daniel Carvajal and Fábio Coentrão would be the proper candidates to man the right back and left back positions respectively.
The midfield trio looks much refined with the newly signed Toni Kroos and James Rodríguez playing alongside Luka Modri?, the Croatian International.
Forming the powerful three man attack should not be a concern for Ancelotti, with the rampaging Ronaldo manning the left flank and drifting infield regularly with his stunning dribbling skills. Gareth Bale would looks likely to play along the right side making the long runs with his electric pace and leaves the French International Karim Benzema as the lone out and out striker and goal scorer.
The talking point however with the 4-3-3 formation would be that of James Rodríguez’s playing position. Although he should be able to play on either the right side or the central midfield, it is apparent that he likes to move up field and create scoring opportunities for himself and fellow attackers. Given the fact that he is not inclined to track back by much, it makes the work for Toni Kroos and Modri? increasingly challenging for not only managing the midfield but also providing the last four with the extra cover as and when needed.
Best Starting XI
With Angel Di Maria’s future in Santiago Bernabeu looking quite uncertain, Luka Modri? stands a very good chance to play alongside Kroos and Rodríguez in the three man midfield; albeit the return of the gritty Xabi Alonso, from suspension, would increase the competition for a place in the midfield.
Additionally with the inclusion of the Colombian International, James Rodríguez, as a member of the Starting XI, Isco finds it hard to find a place in the starting lineup.
On the other hand, Fábio Coentrão looks all set to start the season as the preferred left back overtaking Marcelo for the position, especially after a torrid World Cup campaign for the Brazilian International.
Iker Casillas looks likely to be the preferred goal keeper for all Champions League games whilst the La Liga matches might see Keylor Navas, the highly rated Costa Rican International, protect the Los Blancos goal line.
Best Starting XI: Iker Casillas, Daniel Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fábio Coentrão, Luka Modri?, James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo
Team History in the League (last 25 years)
| Position | Seasons |
| League Champions | 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12. |
| Runners up | 1991–92, 1992–93, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13 |
| 3rd place | 1990-91,2001-02,2013-14 |
| 4th place | 1993-94,1997-98,2003-04 |
| 5th place | 1999-2000 |
| 6th place | 1995-96 |
Prediction
Sealing the top spot in the La Liga alongside a confirmed berth for Champions League should ideally be the main objective for Carlo Ancelotti’s men. With a fiery front line consisting of Bale, Ronaldo, Rodriguez, Kroos and Benzema, Los Blancos could very well fancy their chances of winning the La Liga title for a record 33rd time; albeit the explosive front line of La Blaugrana with their reportedly new and unpredictable style of play could prove to be a major deterrent for Ancelotti’s men.
As we saw in the UEFA Super Match against Sevilla, the fast wingers proved to be essential in contributing to the success of Real Madrid. Toni Kroos made an early impact for strengthening Real Madrid’s midfield as well.
Having scored more than 100 in the La Liga goals last season, if Real Madrid can reprise their performance in the upcoming 2014/15 season, they stand a very good chance for securing any of the top two positions in the Spanish Primera Division table.
Predicted position: 2nd behind Barcelona
