Real tactics Carlo Ancelotti and Madrid used to outfox goal-shy Dortmund in UCL final

A look at the real tactics behind Carlo Ancelotti's latest masterclass with Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund in the UCL final.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid reinforced their status as kings of Europe by claiming a 15th Champions League crown after a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley. 

While the scoreline suggests a comfortable win, Ancelotti's men were made to work for their latest piece of European silverware by a tenacious Dortmund side on Saturday night.

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The German outfit raced out of the blocks and could have been ahead by a couple of goals at halftime, with Karim Adeyemi tormenting the Madrid backline. 

However, the experience and pedigree of the Spanish giants shone through as they regrouped and struck twice in the second half through Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr.

Ancelotti, a master tactician, admitted his side's first-half struggles were down to Dortmund's constant threat on the counter. But the wily Italian made the necessary adjustments at halftime, tweaking his approach to nullify the threats while allowing Madrid's superstar attack to take centre stage.

As Ancelotti and his players celebrated a 5th Champions League win together, it was a masterclass in game management, tactical flexibility, and big-game mentality that ultimately saw Real Madrid reign supreme once again on Europe's grandest stage. 

Pulse Sports Nigeria takes a closer look at the key tactics that underpinned their latest continental conquest:

1. Experience and History 

Real Madrid's pedigree in the Champions League is unmatched, with 14 previous titles to their name heading into the clash.

While it looked anything but that in the opening 45 minutes, Ancelotti and his players drew from this vast experience and big-game mentality, keeping their composure when Dortmund threatened.

Ultimately, it was Real Madrid's unshakable belief and experience in these big Champions League occasions that proved decisive. While Dortmund wilted under the pressure, Madrid's big-game players stood tall when it mattered most.

2. Calmness Under Pressure

While Dortmund raced out of the blocks, Madrid remained calm and patient led by the master Ancelotti on the dugout, trusting in their ability to weather the storm. 

Their measured approach paid dividends in the second half when Dortmund's intensity dropped and Los Blancos took over.

The moment Carvajal headed home the opener, you knew that was the game done and dusted as Real Madrid looked more comfortable thereafter. 

3. Tactical Adjustment

As Ancelotti admitted, his initial game plan wasn't working, with Dortmund's constant counterattacks causing problems in the first half. 

Having noticed that his side lost the ball a lot in that first 45, a tactical tweak at halftime saw Madrid switch to a more containment-based approach, cutting off the supply line to Dortmund's attackers.

Having taken the lead, Madrid's experience kicked in again as they adeptly managed the game, keeping possession and forcing Dortmund to chase the ball. Ancelotti's substitutions also helped see out the victory.

With a perfectly timed tactical adjustment, and a calm and composed approach backed with experience and history, Ancelotti masterminded yet another Champions League victory for the kings of European football.

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