Tactical Turmoil: How Ancelotti’s Choices Cost Real Madrid Against Barcelona

Ancelotti’s tactics exacerbated Real Madrid’s defensive woes in the recent Clásico, leading to a 9-2 aggregate loss. Despite individual errors, Ancelotti’s insistence on an incohesive press, undefined roles, and overly aggressive defending played into Barcelona’s hands. The space between the back four and midfield was excessive, allowing Barcelona to exploit gaps and create scoring opportunities. Ancelotti’s failure to address these issues from the October Clásico highlights his tactical shortcomings and his inability to protect his players from defensive collapse.

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