Real Madrid is not afraid to go to the name rule and cut the ball back, but this season there has been a decrease in the number of crosses that struck deep. That is partly due to inconsistent and different game than their full-backs this season, but in last place also to changes in their forward line last summer.
Last year Los Blancos said goodbye to Joselu Mato, who did not return after an incredibly successful year on loan, where he came from the bank, he led 17 goals and 3 assists. His air threat was another weapon for Carlo Ancelotti and often also benefited Jude Bellingham with his movement.
Now with Endrick Felipe and Kylian Mbappe as their more natural center-forward options, Los Blancos has changed their attack to find balls in the box along the ground. Neither are blessed with great heights, and they do not stand out for their air power. According to Diario AS, the air weakness of Mbappe comes out of a fear of entering headers.
He previously had a concussion in his Ligue 1 career in 2016, while he played for as Monaco, who installed an extra degree of caution in the French attacker. A year and a half after his first concussion, the same thing happened again and Mbappe has not liked to influence the ball with his head since. Last summer, during Euro 2024, Mbappe also played with a mask after breaking his nose, something that braked his breathing and caused him no shortage of discomfort.
This season Mbappe has 23 goals in 35 games, but none of headers has come. It clearly has no influence on his game, but it is a remarkable absence when it is put down in numbers. Earlier, too much contact from headers had been associated with an increased risk of dementia in later life, and it is certainly a legitimate care.
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