Champions League Final: Which Formation Should Zidane Use For Real Madrid?

#2 Formation: Flat 4-4-2

Modric and Kroos will start but will Bale be included?

Players likely to fill up the spots: Asensio, Vazquez/Bale on the wings with Kroos, Modric tucking in the centre.

While it's highly debatable which two of the three aforementioned players will start. It's surely a good formation to line-up in.

The biggest advantage of this system is Los Blancos can double up on the wings to deny Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane any space while Ramos or Varane take care of Roberto Firmino.

This formation provides an added shield on the wings but weakens them in the centre of the park with Kroos-Modric having to put in a double shift to stop James Milner and Jordan Henderson from menacing the Los Blancos defence.

Another big advantage is having the counter-attacking threat from both the wings in form of wonder kid Asensio, tireless bee Vazquez or the Cardiff Express. Marcelo and Carvajal won't have to do the heavy lifting in the offense to create opportunities which can keep them fresh for a longer period of time to tackle the menacing Egyptian.

It's going to be a long night for Marcelo, that's for sure.

Asensio has been quite the forlorn figure these days. No doubt he buried his chance against the mighty Bavarians in a calm fashion but he hasn't been what we have come to expect of him.

He's been isolated and very recently his misplacing of passes and mistimed runs down the left flank with Marcelo had raised alarm bells over whether he has lost his usual sync. He is lacking the fire he had from last season.

Overall it's a good formation to start but Real Madrid relies a bit too much on counter-attack on this one which isn't how Zidane should approach this game. Remember what Bayern did?

Salah is no Thomas Muller or a disgruntled Robert Lewandowski and he will finish his chances. Zidane must be on his toes as this could go both ways.