From The Vault: Del Bosque shuts down Valencia’s wingers

The 1999–2000 Champions League final marked down the first time that both finalists of a European cup were from the same country. The Spaniards conquered Paris. Saint-Denis’ commune precisely.

One on hand it was Real Madrid, the record holder. Vicente Del Bosque’s side were seeking their 8th title after bypassing Bayern Munich in the semis. On the other, it was Valencia managed by Hector Cuper.

Valencia didn’t reach the final by getting a lottery ticket. The Mestalla was a black-hole sucking the opponents’ defence. In the second group stage they put two past Fiorentina and three past Bordeaux. When it came to the knockouts, it was as if Las Fallas came to the pitch. Beating Lazio 5–2, then Barcelona 4–1.

Unfortunately for Cuper the goals stopped there. It was 3–0 for the Madrid side in the final. The 8th title for Real Madrid was celebrated widely at the final whistle with Roberto Carlos booting the ball into row Z, despite having a groin injury three minutes before. The scoreline suggests an impressive attacking performance from Raul, Fernando Morientes an co. However it wasn’t. So what actually happened at the Stade de France ?

Valencia’s goals throughout this Champions League campaign mainly originated from left side where Kily Gonzalez resides. Del Bosque was alert to that. Real Madrid continued with the same shape they used against Bayern in the 1st leg of the semi-final. A 3–4–1–2. The orientation was different this time though. In possession the shape was the same, but out of possession Nicolas Anelka and Morientes dropped to the wings to defend against Valencia’s full backs, making the shape more of a 5–2–3 out of possession.

It was clear that it’s something Del Bosque worked on because Morientes and Anelka aren’t the type of strikers who you would see tracking back. All of this was to stop Valencia’s wing-play and the ball from reaching Kily Gonzalez and Gaizka Mendieta who flanked the Valencian side in a 4–4–2.

The positioning of Anelka and Morientes is clear here. Dropping down to the wing area either side of Raul, despite playing in a narrow two when Real Madrid are in possession.

Anelka’s presence forced Gerardo to pass back to Javier Farinos. The midfielder spotted Jocelyn Angloma’s run and decided to play the ball into his path. Present near-by was Morientes whose positioning would come useful in the next seconds.

Morientes’ initial positioning out wide allowed him to retreat and intercept Farinos’ long ball. Morientes’ role here is important because Robert Carlos was dragged inside by Mendieta’s movement infield.

A similar situation here but with both strikers’ position reversed. Morientes on the right and Anelka on the left. Morientes here pressures Gerardo and prevents him from combining with Kily Gonzalez on the flank. Gerardo has no option but to go backwards and reset the attack.

Another beneficial point was that the positioning of Morientes and Anelka provided Real Madrid with a 3 v 2 scenario on the wings because neither of Valencia’s center midfielders would overload that area. So it was only the full back and winger — Mendieta and Angloma here. Mendieta tried using his skills but he only got a corner which should have been awarded to Real Madrid.

Another example shows Mauricio Pellegrino on the ball with no passing options. His usual wide outlets, Kily Gonzalez and Gerardo are respectively marked by Michel Salgado and Anelka.

Pellegrino decides to pick out one of the forwards, Angulo, but he’s closely tracked by Ivan Helguera — a point which we’ll come to next. Anelka then finishes his defensive duties by regaining the ball.

Morientes and Anelka had more defensive mark on the game than an offensive one. It didn’t matter if Roberto Carlos and Salgado were dragged out of position, the striker duo were there to fill in.

Especially Morientes who considering this was the 62nd minute of the game with Real Madrid only 1 goal up, you wouldn’t be seeing him in this position. Tracking back and getting the ball off Mendieta.

The consequence of Valencia’s wingers being shut down is that Valencia’s central midfielders and defenders were constantly seeking direct balls towards Angulo and Claudio Lopez. Here, Morientes is defending the wing area and Roberto Carlos is dropping alongside Mendieta, tracking his run inside.

Gerard chose to play a pass into Angulo but Aitor Karanka was aggressively marking Valencia’s striker. Because of the shut down of the wings, Angulo and Claudio Lopez had to roam to present themselves as passing options. Real Madrid’s back three reacted to this by aggressively marking them, keeping in mind two things. Valencia’s wing-play is shut down and that it was a 3 v 2, so if Ivan Campo or Karanka decided to leave their positions, there were two more center-backs.

Long balls as well were easily contested even if they were far from the penalty area because the 3 v 2 situation always allowed Real Madrid an extra defender. Helguera here beats Angulo in the aerial duel

Linking both strategies can be seen here. Morientes is deep protecting the channel as Roberto Carlos is ready to defend the wing area. As a result, Miroslav Djukic decides to play a long ball into the channel.

Karanka is present and beats both Valencia forwards.

Same scenario but on the other side of the pitch. Anelka’s presence prevents a ball behind Salgado into Kily Gonzalez.

Pellegrino chooses the option of Claudio Lopez and as you can see Campo is all over him.

Cuper’s solution was to bring on Romanian striker Adrian Ilie instead of left back Gerardo and move to a 3–4–1–2 shape. Del Bosque responded three minutes after by switching to a 5–3–2 shape bringing on Savio instead of Morientes. Later on Del Bosque introduced Manuel Sanchis for Anelka and shut-up shop in a 5–4–1 shape.

The origin of Real Madrid’s three goals were kind of niche. A deflected free-kick, a throw-in and a counter-attack after a corner where Raul had half of the field empty in-front of him.

Real Madrid’s 2000 side showed two different sides to their game in the final and semi-final. A false “10” by Raul in the 1st leg of the semi and using the Anelka-Morientes duo to track back Valencia’s full backs in the final.

The result, an eighth European cup.