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Barcelona caught Real Madrid offside 12 times in 90 minutes and AC Milan are hoping to do the same
As AC Milan gear up to face Real Madrid in their crucial Champions League fixture, head coach Paulo Fonseca has revealed a unique approach to preparing for the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Inspired by Barcelona’s recent 4-0 triumph over Real Madrid in El Clasico, Fonseca admitted he and his staff studied the footage closely, hoping to replicate some of Barcelona’s tactics, including an effective offside trap, to disrupt Madrid’s attack.
Milan boss analyses El Clasico strategy for Real Madrid showdown
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Fonseca shared that Barcelona’s emphatic victory over Real Madrid was both a source of inspiration and a tactical blueprint.
“I watched Real vs Barcelona; it’s impossible not to watch it because they are teams I enjoy studying. We’re a different team, of course, but we used the footage from El Clasico to prepare for this match,” Fonseca explained.
Barcelona’s offside traps, which caught Los Blancos out 12 times, and high pressing allowed them to shut down key Real Madrid playmakers, and Milan is hoping to replicate some of these strategies.
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While Fonseca knows that AC Milan do not possess Barcelona’s exact style, he believes there are elements his squad can adapt to disrupt Madrid’s rhythm.
Rossoneri embrace underdog status against reigning champions
Fonseca also acknowledged that AC Milan are the clear underdogs heading into the Bernabeu against the Champions League holders.
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Despite recent domestic victories, the AC Milan boss admitted his squad faces a much different challenge against Los Blancos compared to other Serie A giants.
When asked whether this game bore any resemblance to Milan’s surprise 2-1 victory over Inter in Serie A, Fonseca was quick to clarify.
“It’s similar in that AC Milan were not the favourites against Inter, and we are not tomorrow," Fonseca said, adding, “but they are completely different games. They are opponents with totally different styles of play. We’ve prepared for this game differently.”
With Fonseca taking cues from both El Clasico and his prior encounters with top-tier opponents, AC Milan’s approach against Real Madrid promises a fascinating tactical battle, as they aim to pull off a major upset at one of football’s most formidable venues.
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