Real Madrid’s Plan to Stop Haaland in the Champions League
Real Madrid has found an unexpected center-back duo at the most crucial moment of the season. Aurélien Tchouaméni, a defensive midfielder converted into a center-back out of necessity, and Raúl Asencio, a youth academy graduate who has surpassed other academy prospects, will be tasked with neutralizing Erling Haaland in the Champions League.
Haaland’s Goal Drought Against Real Madrid
The Norwegian striker has never scored in four previous meetings against Real Madrid—his worst record against any team in the Champions League. Among the 15 teams he has faced at least twice in the competition, only three have managed to keep him off the scoresheet: Inter Milan, Manchester City (before he joined them), and Real Madrid.
In the 2022/23 semifinals, Haaland faced Rüdiger and Alaba in the first leg (1-1 at the Bernabéu) and then Militao and Alaba in the second leg, where City won 4-0—but Haaland didn’t score. In last season’s quarterfinals, Rüdiger shadowed him closely, with Nacho stepping in for the return leg, once again nullifying the Norwegian striker.
An Emergency Defense
With injuries to Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez, Rüdiger, Militao, and Alaba, Ancelotti has little room to maneuver. Jesús Vallejo is not an option, so tactical adjustments are necessary:
- Fede Valverde will cover at right-back.
- Tchouaméni and Asencio will form the center-back pairing.
Asencio, who previously struggled against Liverpool and Athletic Club, arrives in great form after a strong performance against Atlético Madrid, where he:
- Won 100% of his duels
- Made 8 recoveries
- Had a 93.62% pass accuracy
Key Factors in the Plan
- Tchouaméni will battle Haaland in the air and play a key role in Madrid’s build-up play.
- Asencio will provide speed and anticipation, cutting passing lanes and preventing Haaland from receiving the ball comfortably.
- Communication will be essential to coordinate defensive efforts and avoid costly mistakes.
The goal is to keep the tie alive for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid hopes to recover Rüdiger and further strengthen their backline.
