1. The document provides a scout report on Real Madrid for the 2014/15 season, detailing their individual player characteristics, system of play, and tactical approach in offensive and defensive phases. 2. In offense, they use a fluid 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 system focused on ball possession and creating overloads in midfield through triangular formations. In defense, they transform to a compact 4-4-2 with midfielders helping to cover fullbacks. 3. Their key tactics include building attacks from the back through midfield triangles and switching play to overloading wingers or fullbacks, as well as fast offensive transitions involving their skilled front four players plus one midfielder when winning the ball high up

1. Scout Report: C.F. REAL MADRID 2014/15
by Branko Nikovski
(the creator of the Method 5x5)

2. 1. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE PLAYERS
GOALKEEPER (GK)
CASILLAS :
-Left footed. Leader. Captain. Great in
communication with the defenders,
great reflexes and 1vs1 duels.
Problems with going out or not during
the Defensive Set Pieces and long
balls. When he is in form , the
defenders can relax and feel safe.
CENTRAL DEFENDERS (CB)
S.Ramos :
-Ambidextrous. Great marking , tactical
position, concentration, agile, fast,
physically strong and in 1vs1 defensive
duels. Dominant in aerial duels. He can
play also like right back. Often he is the
organizator of the action : long diagonal
pass for the full back or the winger.

3. Pepe :
-Right footed . He has all the
characteristics of world class defender.
Thanks to Ancelotti, now he is
controlling his temper, especially the
yellow cards
FULLBACKS (LB/RB)
Marcelo :
- Classic brazilian left full back, who
attacks a lot the left flank. Great in
insertions without ball, crossing,
technique,dribbling, but also good in
defence : marking, physical duels,
tactical position.
Carvajal :
-Great right full back, who attacks a lot
the right flank. He moves a lot without
the ball, but also great in lateral
insertions. Good in defence : marking,
tactical position, aerial duels, physical
duels.

4. PLAYMAKER (DM)
OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS (AM)
Kroos :
- Ambidextrous. The constructor of the game :
the playmaker. Elevated technique, game vision
and creativity. Good in protecting the ball. Often
moves down in Zone 1 between the two central
defenders per developing the phase of
construction in Zone 1/2. With his vision of play,
often tries to find the winger or the fullback on
the flank with long diagonal pass.
James Rodriguez :
-Left Footed. Left Attacking Midfielder :
''trequartista'' with elevated technique and
movements between the lines. Often moves
between the lines . If the winger is accentred
and the full back stays behind, he moves on the
left flank, transforming in lateral midfielder.
Often plays like right winger, for accentred
movements and shoots on goal. Great shooter
and in 1vs1 offensive duels. In defensive phase
(4-4-2), he is covering the left flank, helping
Marcelo.
Modric :
-Ambidextrous. Right Attacking Midfielder :
Elevated technique,game vision and creativity.
He helps Kroos during the phase of
construction, passing the ball in Zone 3,through
filtered pass, moving the ball on the flank or
long diagonal/vertical pass.

5. WINGERS (LW/RW)
STRIKER (ST)
Ronaldo :
- A polyvalent player, ambidextrous, with all the
elevated qualities of striker/winger.Very fast and
agile, with elevated acceleration .Even if he is
playing like winger, often moves centrally looking
the ball between the lines. Movements Liberty
and Creativity. In defensive phase 4-4-2 , plays
like striker, putting passive pressing on the
opponent's defenders.
Bale :
-Left Footed. Winger, Striker, Trequartista. Very
fast and agile, with elevated acceleration. Great
in 1vs1 duels. In offensive phase 4-3-3, plays like
right winger , with accentred movements and
shoots on goal. In defensive phase 4-4-2 drops
down on the midfielder line covering the right
flank, and helping Carvajal in defence.
Benzema :
- Goleador. Very strong striker, but also
fast. Good dribbling, movements
without ball, technique,intuition,
coldness in front of the goal.

6. SUBSTITUTIONS :
Navas :
- Reserve goalkeeper. Decent
substitution of Casillas.
Varane :
- Young central defender, with elevated
tactical development. Great in 1vs1,
fast, agile, strong physically, and great
marking , tactical position,
concentrazione. A substitution of Pepe
and S.Ramos.
Coentrao :
- Left fullback, decent in offensive
phase, but great in defence. He offers
more coverage than Marcelo, but he is
not participating in offensive phase like
him

7. Albeloa :
- Right expert fullback, decent in
offensive phase, but great in defence.
He offers more coverage than Carvajal,
but he is not participating in offensive
phase like him
Khedira :
- Defensive midfielder, with decent
constructive qualities, but elevate
destructive qualities for blocking the
opponent's tactics.
He offers a team equilibrium
Illarra :
-Defensive midfielder, who can play
like playmaker,with good vision of
game. But he is slow and sometimes
loses the concentration

8. Isco :
- Attacking midfielder/trequartista
with elevated technique, but also
prepare to sacrifice for the team.
Great vision of game. Substitution of
Modric or James.
Jesè :
- Ambidextrous winger, very fast and
great in 1vs1 duels. Substitution of
Bale or C.Ronaldo.
Chicarito :
-Very fast striker, great in movements
without ball . Agile. Substitution of
Benzema

9. 2. GENERAL :
1. They use a bivalent and fluid system of play :
1.1 4-3-3 (4-3-2-1) in Offensive Phase, with creative
midfield triangle with elevated technique.
1.2 4-4-2 in Defensive Phase. The right winger
drops on the midfielder line ,and the left winger
moves near the striker.

14. 3. SYSTEM OF PLAY : 4-3-3 and
4-4-2
THEIR FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON FIVE (5)
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES /IDEAS :
1. ATTACKING FOOTBALL based on BALL POSSESSION
2. CENTRAL DYNAMICAL TRIANGLES/RHOMBOIDS/
PENTAGONS and HEXAGON for BALL POSSESSION
3. DEFENSIVE SHORTNESS AND COMPACTNESS
4. ULTRA DANGEROUS POSITIVE OFFENSIVE
TRANSITION
5. BIVALENT SYSTEM'S FLUIDITY during the game.

23. OFFENSIVE PHASE : 4-3-3 (4-3-2-1)
* They play with polyvalent 4-3-3 (4-3-2-1) with many
variations / modifications / positional swapping
*The base of ball possession and attacking football is created
through :
1) Midfield triangle with elevated technique and creativity.
2) The wingers are moving in central zone ,creating dynamic
rhomboid , pentagon or hexagon in central zone (symmetric
and asymmetric positionality).
3) The full backs are high and wide (depending of the
symmetric/asymmetric position of the wingers).
* If the opponent is playing defensive and closed football, the
entire barycenter of the team moves in Zone 3/4

26. ZONE 1 :
- The actions starts from Casillas. He tries to find one
of the central defenders or Kroos ,who drops down
in Zone 1 between the central defenders for
developing the phase of construction.
-When Kroos is in Zone 1 , the fullbacks move in
wide in Zone 2 , creating a 3-4-3 .

27. ZONE 2 :
* Kroos is the playmaker ,who takes care of the phase of
construction and creativity. He represents the point
between two diagonals of a square ( two central defenders
+ two offensive midfielders).
1. In Zone 2 , the entire midfield triangle is participating in
construction phase.
* Even if the opponent is applying a high pressing, Real
Madrid's players are in numerical superiority, because in
construction phase are participating eight(8) players
through positional play :
** goalkeeper + two central defenders + the midfield
triangle + two wide fullbacks .

36. 2. If Kroos has the liberty for construction, the action is
developing through :
2.1 the midfield triangle ,with 4-5 passes tries to shift the
ball between the lines.
2.1.1 The midfield triangle is supported centrally by the
wingers or the striker (or all them), creating a rhomboid,
pentagon or hexagon (depending of the players which are
participating) in Zone 2/3 trying a filtered pass between
the lines (for James,the striker or one of the wingers).
2.2 When the wingers move in central zone , the fullbacks
attack the flanks in Zone 3. Then the triangle(Kroos) tries
to find them on the flanks.

43. 3. If Kross is marked, the central defender is
responsible for the development of the
action:
3.1 Often S.Ramos takes this duties, trying to
find a winger or high fullback in Zone 3 on the
opposite flank via long diagonal pass.

49. 4. If Kross is marked, often Modric / Isco
takes his duties :
4.1 trying filtrete pass in Zone 3 through
rhomboids / pentagon or hexagon.
4.2 moving the ball on flanks for the fullbacks
(high and wide).

52. ZONE 3 :
CENTRALLY :
1. if the filtrate pass is positive, they attack Zone 4
with elevate velocity through passes with one/two
touches :
1.1 vertical/diagonal passes for the striker or the
winger/s
1.2 moving the ball on the flanks

61. 2. If the opponent plays a defensive and closed football,
the entire barycenter of the team moves in Zone 3,
through Kroos's duties from Zone 2 :
2.1 the midfield triangle ,with 4-5 passes tries to shift the
ball between the lines.
2.1.1 The midfield triangle is supported centrally by the
wingers or the striker (or all them), creating a rhomboid,
pentagon or hexagon (depending of the players which are
participating) in Zone 3/4 trying a filtered pass between
the lines (for James,the striker or one of the wingers).
2.2 When the wingers move in central zone , the fullbacks
attack the flanks in Zone 3/4. Then the triangle(Kroos) tries
to find them on the flanks.

83. LATERALLY :
* They create lateral triangles composed by : winger + fullback +
attacking midfielder.
1. On the flanks, they are very dangerous : especially on the left
flank, with the duo C.Ronaldo - Marcelo, supported by James
Rodriguez, creating a very dangerous left lateral triangle :
1.1 through positional play and elevated technical qualities, this
three players create a lateral numerical superiority through lateral
insertions without ball and 1vs1 offensive duels (great dribblers).
1.1.1 Often the move centrally for shooting on the goal (Ronaldo).
1.2 They could also try to cross in Zone 4 centrally, especially if the
duo is composed by James and Marcelo (C.Ronaldo moves in Zone 4
central zone near the striker expecting the lateral cross.).
2. The same duties are applied on the right flank, also with elevated
technique qualities. The duo is composed by Bale and Carvajal,
supported by Modric, creating a right lateral triangle.

97. ZONE 4 :
CENTRALLY :
1. Often shots on goal ,if they find a defensive hole in
the opponent's tactic.
2. Filtrate pass in depth for the striker
3. Moving the ball on the flanks, for the wingers or
offensive fullback.
LATERALLY :
1. Through the lateral numerical superiority , the
lateral triangle attacks Zone 4 and crosses in central
zone:
1.1 In central zone , the striker and the opposite
winger (and maybe the winger from the lateral
triangle ,if is near the striker) attack the penalty area,
supported by the opposite attacking midfielder.
1.1.1 The playmaker and the opposite fullback remain
outside the 16m-area expecting the second balls .
2. They can also move centrally, trying to shoot on
goal (Ronaldo, Bale, James : great shooters).

119. SPECIFIC ASPECTS IN OFFENSIVE PHASE :
1. In construction phase , Kroos represents a point of two
diagonals in a rhomboid.
2. The midfield triangle often tries via long diagonal/vertical
pass on the opposite flank to find the winger or the fullback.
3. One of the central defenders participate in construction phase
in Zone 2/3 , and often tries to find the opposite winger or
fullback on the opposite flank via long diagonal pass.
4. The strikers often drops down ,for helping in constructive
phase (creating a rhomboid with the midfield triangle).
5. The principal duty for creating a central rhomboid/pentagon
or hexagon (symmetric or asymmetric position of the wingers) is
to create central numerical superiority, and liberate the flanks
for the fullbacks.
6. If the fullback stays in Zone 2, the winger remains wide on the
flank. When the fullback attacks Zone 3, the winger centralizes
in central zone.
7. If the winger is in central zone, and the fullback is not
attacking the flank(remaining in line with Kroos) , the attacking
midfielder (James,Isco,Modrid) moves wide acting like lateral
midfielder.
8. The three (3) attacking players (striker + wingers) often swap
positions.
9. If the winger is wide , he attacks Zone 4 via diagonal
movement in depth.
10. Ronaldo has liberty for creation and movement.
11. The fullbacks are asymmetrically positioned in Zone 4.

120. 1.

122. 2.

124. 3.

125. 5.
6.

126. 7.

128. 9.

130. DEFENSIVE PHASE : 4-4-2
1. The system of play ,transforms in 4-4-2 with the
shifting of the right winger on the midfield line, and
the centralization of the left winger near the striker.
2. 4-4-2 very short and compact
3. The lateral midfielders are helping and covering the
fullbacks. If they don't help during the covering, the
fullbacks remain in negative lateral numerical
inferiority on the flank against the opponent (1vs2).
4. Aerial supremacy and domination.
5. The central defenders are very strong and fast.
They can play against the opponent's strikers 1vs1
and will dominate. If the opponent is playing with one
striker, one is marking him and the other is covering.
6. DEFENSIVE WEAKNESS : this argoment is relative.
They are weak if there is too space between the two
lines, for eventual insertions of the opponent's
players. This argument is relative, because is
contradictor with the their 4-4-2 short and compact.
But sometimes happens.

131. 7. PRESSING : medium passive and active.
7.1 Passive :
-the two strikers apply a passive pressing on
the opponent ball carrier in Zone 4/3
(especially the central defenders and the
fullbacks) obligate them on long pass
(dominant in aerial duels) or technical error
(eventual offensive transition).
7.2 Active :
-when the ball is opponent's central
midfielders, the pressing transforms in active
and aggressive.
Why ? - because if they steal the ball from the
opponent's central midfielders ,the
opponent's defensive line is discovered + they
have the two strikers (Ronaldo and Benzema )
in front ready for eventual offensive
transition.

132. 1.
2.

156. 4.

161. 5.

165. 6.

167. 7.

170. OFFENSIVE TRANSITION :
1. This tactical principle is the strongest weapon from
Ancelotti's philosophy and very often is positive. The
three up front are very fast and great in 1vs1
offensive duels.
1.1 This tactical principle is composed by 4+1 players
( the striker - the wingers - one attacking midfielder +
( the other attacking midfielder or one of the
fullbacks) ).
2. The offensive transition is elevate when they steal
the ball in Zone 3/2 centrally. They attack with 4+1 ,
exploiting the opponent's anti-equilibrium and
positioning.
3. If they steal the ball in lateral zone, the fifth player
who participate in the offensive transition is the
fullback. Sometimes immediately are trying to find
the striker with long vertical/diagonal pass.
4. If they steal the ball in Zone 4, 99% the offensive
transition is positive (goal).

184. DEFENSIVE TRANSITION :
-Like every big team ,who wants to dominate the game
through ball possession with many players in the
opponent's midfield ( the barycenter of the team is very
high) this tactical principle often can be a WEAKNESS.
-If the defensive transition is positive, the team is not
suffering the opponent's counter-attacks.
-If the defensive transition is negative, it creates a
problems based on big space covering and numerical
inferiority. - DEFENSIVE WEAKNESS.
1. When the ball is lost in Zone 4/3 , they immediately try
to recover it and block all opponent's pass trajectories.
1.1 They also try to move the opponent on the flanks ,
expecting help from the teammates.
2. A problem is born when they lose the ball in Zone 3
(through technical error) with the barycenter of the team
very high. In defence ,remain only Kroos and the two
central defenders, or only the two central defenders.

199. 4. SET PIECES : POSITIVE
*CORNERS :
-right : Kroos ,Modric or James
-left : Kroos or Modric
-They attack with five (5) players : striker + wingers + central
defenders ( Benzema + Ronaldo, Bale + S.Ramos, Pepe )-
-Bale attacks the first post , Benzema the second, and the rest
(three) attack the central zone in front of the opponent
goalkeeper.
-Two other players remain outside the penalty area , expecting
the second balls or blocking eventual opponent's offensive
transition. Marcelo and Carvajal remain back.

205. * FreeKicks :
LATERAL :
-right : James
-left : Kroos
-The same procedure like in the offensive
corners. The same five (5) players with the
same duties.

208. CENTRALLY :
- Shoot on goal, with one player who is
disturbing the opponent's barrier + two
players which are expecting eventual
reject/save from the goalkeeper.
-Ronaldo and Bale , great shooters.

211. 5. SET PIECES : NEGATIVE
*CORNERS : man marking
-One player is covering the first post. Two
others are covering the central zone in front
of Casillas. The others are man marking.

215. *FREEKICKS : man marking
Lateral :
-two in the barrier. The others are
positioned in horizontal line , but man
marking.
.

219. Central :
- 4/5 players in the barrier (jump).
The others are man marking

221. CARLO ANCELOTTI
Tactically very strong coach (in the first three) , but
also great in ambiental terms. His AC Milan
dominated Europe for many years thanks to his
polyvalent and fluid tactic ( 4-3-3 in 4-4-2 and
vicersa). Speaking in ambiental terms, maybe he is
the best coach in the World, because he was able to
put in practice his tactical ides at Chelsea, PSG and
Real Madrid now. And in every of this clubs he has
won.

222. His football philosophy, based on 4-3-3 (4-3-2-1) ,
called by him the ''Christmas tree '' , gave to him
three(3) Champions Leagues, national league in
Italy, England and France.

223. He was able to create a collective with high
individual egos. A group of players which are
sacrificing , and when one subject sacrifices for the
team, the team is sacrificing for him.