Pressing Issues

If the goals from Real Madrid’s 2-1 Champions League Round of 16 victory over Atletico had one thing in common, it would be that each goal derived from a moment of magic and creativity.

Modern football is often criticised for its formulaic, often chess-like nature and its lack of footballing artists and players who provide genuine creativity. Through rose-tinted glasses people look back at years gone by and remember the players that would leave audiences dazzled with their individual genius – from Dimitar Berbatov and Mesut Ozil to Dimitri Payet and Adel Taarabt, players of this nature were the reason many fans watched football.

But the game’s tactical evolution means we rarely see these players in modern football. The ‘traditional number 10’ has arguably been phased out in favour of teams creating more rigid systems designed to wear opponents down through consistent patterns and offer defensive security.

Yet the three goals in last night’s Madrid derby were indicative of football’s latest evolution arriving. Each goal came from players ‘trying something’, breaking the formula of what the opposition would have expected and finding a goal as a result.

When every top club has access to hours of video footage and analysis, it’s no surprise that they have become able to prepare and predict their opponents’ plans. Yet when strategies become so rehearsed, and so calculated, they start to cancel each other out.

This is where the artists, often referred to as game-breakers, begin to become absolutely vital. Players who are capable of disrupting the formula, finding inspiration in moments where no one else can, end up playing a vital role in the outcome of games.

This is what we saw last night – particularly with the goals from Julian Alvarez and Brahim Diaz. They found a competitive advantage by taking a risk, and were rewarded for their efforts. The game was nothing short of theatre, so if it does prove to be a sign of things to come, football fans are in for a treat in the coming years.