Carlo Ancelotti experimented with a four-man midfield for a couple of games in the LaLiga this season due to injuries to their players upfront. Real Madrid is a team that does not like changes, especially the formational and tactical ones. Everyone is used to watching the trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric. But with the increasing average age of the midfield trio, they seem to be less on energy as the game progresses. In a 4-4-2, they can play Kroos and Modric in a double pivot role, creating chances from the back, and have Fede Valverde on the right and Camavinga or Vinicius on the left to inject some energy in the midfield.
Valverde has been used as a wide midfielder, at times, this season. Valverde is a ball-winning machine both in the middle of the park and on the flank, where he often pushes out wide and up to supply a supporting attacking outlet that allows his forwards to move higher up the pitch. Valverde has shown that he’s good at playing as a wide midfielder or a right-sided midfielder in a four-man setup. His pass map indicates he has generated a high xT from the passes he has made into the penalty area.
Camavinga shows great energy in the game and can play as a wide midfielder on the left. His heatmap indicates that he spends most of his time on the pitch on the left side. Camavinga shows a great work rate, ball-winning abilities and also carries the ball well. These attributes indicate that he can be a good wide midfielder for the Los Blancos.
Having young players like Vinicius Junior, Fede Valverde, and Rodrygo in the team is great for Real Madrid. Rodrygo is an excellent fit for this formation. He can help in the defense and can run to help the team transition from defending to attacking real quick. The above heat map shows us that Rodrygo can be a huge threat from the right flank when he gets into the final third and also gets back to help out his full-back. This will help Real Madrid balance their attacking threat from both the flanks.
Second, it is a formation that will allow Luka Jovic to play alongside Karim Benzema. Luka Jovic is a talented young player. He can drop back and combine with teammates, or he can play as a poacher, sticking to the opposing backline and pressuring it with forwarding runs. He is strong on the ball and also does a good job of guarding it. Furthermore, his strength and aerial dominance give him an advantage when crosses are played into the box.
