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Is Sergio Ramos in midfield really the best solution for Real Madrid?

Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos (R) greets fans at the end of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match Juventus vs Real Madrid

After Real Madrid's 2-1 Champions League semi-final first leg defeat to Juventus in Turin, the role of Sergio Ramos in midfield came under scrutiny. Adam Bate looks at why the experiment could be set to backfire for Carlo Ancelotti...

"Within a minute of Luka Modric getting injured, I knew I would play Sergio Ramos," said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after seeing the defender help the team to a 1-0 Champions League quarter-final second-leg victory over Atletico Madrid in the Bernabeu last month by playing in an unfamiliar midfield role. After last week's performance in Turin, it remains unclear whether such conviction on this matter was hasty or inspired.

Ramos struggled throughout the semi-final first leg at Juventus, and while he was not the only Real Madrid player to suffer on a noisy night in Turin, the continued experiment of playing one of the world's best defenders in midfield is perhaps the decision that most leaves Ancelotti open to criticism.

There are certainly suspicions that Real president Florentino Perez is unlikely to be impressed by the ploy, and not just because it does not sit well with the idealistic notion of the club as stylish entertainers. Midfield specialists Asier Illarramendi and Lucas Silva did not come cheap, after all.

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Short-term measures are one thing but with Modric out for the season, this could be a rather more prolonged experiment. It didn't work against Barcelona last season and even the decision to move Ramos there against Atletico seemed best justified as a specific switch to neutralise the unique qualities of Diego Simeone's robust side.

"We wanted to avoid problems on the counter, and to have concentration at dead-balls," said Ancelotti of that win. "With Ramos, Pepe and Raphael Varane we are more comfortable at corners or throw-ins. Sergio has the quality to play in this position. He did it very well."

Game too far?

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Ramos stayed in midfield as Real ended Sevilla's 34-match unbeaten run in front of their own fans with an albeit unconvincing 3-2 victory. Nevertheless, there was the distinct feeling that the trip to Turin proved a game too far for Ramos' midfield adventure.

Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid CF is challenged by with Andrea Pirlo of Juventus FC during the UEFA Champions League semi final
Image: Ramos: Challenged by Andrea Pirlo

The presence of Andrea Pirlo in the playmaking role for the opposition is unlikely to flatter anyone in world football, but Ramos appeared particularly shaken in the opening 20 minutes. A sloppy pass early on set the tone and he was fortunate not to be punished when robbed by Stefano Sturaro soon afterwards. Midway through the first half his passing accuracy was a miserable 70 per cent.

Later on there was the unedifying sight of Ramos appearing to trip over his own legs as he surrendered possession once more (16 times in all) but he did eventually get to grips with the role, dispossessing both Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata in dangerous positions early in the second half. Ramos made more tackles than anyone on the pitch and more interceptions than any team-mate.

Too ambitious

However, he was also guilty of being too ambitious in taking on playmaking duties. Instead of opting for the simple passes, there were regular crossfield balls of mixed success. Twice he sent raking passes out of play on the left wing, while there was also a woefully overhit cross with 20 minutes remaining when the pass to Dani Carvajal on the overlap was the percentage play.

Juventus' midfielder Arturo Vidal fights for the ball with Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg
Image: Ramos: Fights for the ball with Arturo Vidal

Ramos might even have capped a difficult night by giving away the free-kick that could have led to a potentially decisive third Juve goal had Fernando Llorente converted from Pirlo's cross. Instead, the error went unpunished and Ancelotti was able to defend his player afterwards.

"We made more mistakes than usual, not just Sergio, but at the back we had more difficulties because Juve put us under a lot of pressure but Sergio did a good job as he did in the past games," he told reporters. It was certainly true that Ramos was not alone in his struggles.

Juve's slick passing in a 27-pass move for the game's opener succeeded in dragging the Real defence out of position with Varane failing to close down Tevez quickly enough before Pepe appealed in vain for offside against Morata at the far post. While the full-backs were to blame for the break that led to the decisive penalty, a simple ball in behind might have even seen Llorente add a third.

It's impossible to know whether or not the presence of Ramos in the back line could have prevented such moments, but it's clear that Real cannot allow themselves to be caught out so easily in the return leg. At the moment, they look to be compromising a strength to cover a weakness and that's rarely a feature of a Champions League winning team. It could be time for a Ramos rethink.

Watch Real Madrid v Juventus live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Wednesday 

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