sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Marc Cucurella's defensive positioning for Real Madrid opener is being ripped apart
Home>Football
Updated 22:13 18 Apr 2023 GMT+1Published 21:55 18 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Marc Cucurella's defensive positioning for Real Madrid opener is being ripped apart

Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella had an evening to forget against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Marc Cucurella had an evening to forget on Tuesday in Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid – and a lapse in concentration for Los Blancos' opener summed up his evening.

The 24-year-old defender has struggled of late. On Wednesday night, he failed to track Rodrygo's run at the Bernabeu as the Brazilian forward ran through on goal.

Ben Chilwell was then forced to drag him down, which resulted in the England international getting a straight red card.

A week later and Cucurella's defensive frailties were on show again in the Champions League, when he left Rodrygo wide open on the right flank after closing down Eder Militao. You can see that moment below.

Moments later and Rodrygo made it 3-0 on aggregate in the second leg at Stamford Bridge after some poor defending from the home side.

Advert

Here's how fans reacted to the incident.

One said: "Say what you want but when your left-back help runs off to who knows where and you've got half the width of the pitch to cover against one of the best young wide forwards in the world, bad things happen."

A second wrote: "I have said this for months. Cucurella's defensive positioning is one of if not THE worst we have every seen for a defender at Chelsea."

A third commented: "Absolutely fascinating defensive positioning from Cucurella for that goal."

A fourth added: "Chelsea’s defending in recent weeks has been awful. Just another example of how unorganised our back line is and how unstructured we are when out of possession. Look at that back line."

Rodrygo, who has now scored more Champions League goals than Zinedine Zidane, went on to bag his second of the game and his 15th Champions League goal to put the tie to bed.

Thoughts on Cucurella's performance against Real Madrid across both legs?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/BT Sport

Topics: Chelsea, Real Madrid, Champions League, Marc Cucurella, Fan Reactions

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is the Senior Journalist for SPORTbible, one of the world’s biggest social publishers. He specialises in long-form feature writing and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day. He has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and News Practice.

X

@jackkenmare_

Recommended reads

Former Man Utd No.2 suggests only reason Michael Carrick would not get the full-time jobGetty ImagesVinnie Jones ‘would love’ for rags to riches life story to be made into movie as he talks Netflix documentaryNetflixMan Utd's 15 transfer targets to fill four key positions as at least six prepare to leaveGetty ImagesDennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Getty
    7 hours ago

    Donald Trump ally claims Italy may still replace Iran at World Cup just 35 days before tournament

    A Trump envoy has made a huge claim just over a month before the opening game.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    7 hours ago

    EFL launch probe after 'furious' Middlesbrough accuse Southampton of spying before play-off clash

    Middlesbrough host Southampton in their play-off semi-final first leg on Friday night.

    Football
  • Getty
    7 hours ago

    Federico Valverde issues statement after altercation with Aurelien Tchouameni

    Real Madrid midfielder Valverde has issued a statement after he was involved in an altercation with team-mate Tchouameni.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Man Utd youth team can't even allow families to Youth Cup final after Man City decision

    Manchester United team may not be able to have their families in attendance for the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City.

    Football
  • QUIZ: Can you name the player who has scored most goals for each club?
  • Chelsea's Wesley Fofana appears to read note seconds before Real Madrid score
  • Marc Cucurella is getting cooked for his involvement in Ben Chilwell's red card for Chelsea
  • Chelsea owner Todd Boehly makes outrageous prediction for Real Madrid game, he's very confident