Attacking corner routine #1: Real Madrid vs Cadiz
In the video above we see Real Madrid in their game against Cadiz. They have a corner from the left and it’s taken by a right-footed player, meaning the ball will swing in towards the goal, rather than swing out away the goalkeeper. Cadiz employs a two-player zonal structure combined with a three-man-marker system.
Real Madrid have one player outside the penalty area who is tasked with being the first line of defence and/or second balls from the corners. There are three players in the six-yard box, who try to make the most of it in terms of dominance – one of these players is tasked with blocking the goalkeeper’s movement. Deeper in the penalty area we see a 3v3 with three runners and three blockers from Cadiz. This is happening against a two-player zonal marking employed by Cadiz.
As soon as the ball is kicked we see that the movement goes to the near post zone as well the goalkeeper zone. At first, the ball is well defended by Cadiz, but Real Madrid keeps their high line in the second phase in what Cadiz doesn’t do. By swinging the ball from a free kick-like angle, they convert this set piece and their approach mirrors that. Cadiz doesn’t do that and stays in the corner defence, which gives Real Madrid to score the header.
Attacking corner routine #2: Real Madrid vs Getafe
In the video above we see Real Madrid in their game against Getafe. They have a corner from the left and it’s taken by a right-footed player, meaning the ball will swing in towards the goal, rather than swing out away the goalkeeper. Cadiz employs a zonal marking scheme against Real Madrid
Real Madrid have two player outside the penalty area who is tasked with being the first line of defence and/or second balls from the corners. There are two players in the six-yard box, that are very close to the goalkeeper and try make his life a hell. There are three players outside the six-yard box who will move up higher in the pitch Deeper in the penalty area we see one player who remains conservative and stretches the defence with his positioning.
As soon as the ball is played, we see a movement of the players to ward the near post. There are three players that are just outside the six-yard box that move towards the near post. Two of them go on a higher pace, dragging their defenders with them. In doing so they open up space for the third Real Madrid player to run behind and then go into that same area as well. Due to this routine, he is unopposed in his run and he has the freedom to head the ball in goal.
Real Madrid has been doing really well with their attacking corners and have scored 5 goals with them. At the end of the season they could hit double numbers and with that, be decisive at very important moments in games in La Liga.
