Why do Real Madrid always play better in the second half? | ESPN FC Extra Time 

The carvajal slander is wild, he’s been nothing but clutch and showed grit in every matchup

Saying Carvajal maybe doesn't deserve to play for real madrid is one of the wildest takes I've ever heard in my entire life, if you think of all the crucial goals madrid have scored in the last 10 years years a lot of them were because of carvajal's crosses or plays that he was involved in i.e the 2nd goal against man city 2 years ago or the most perfect bicycle kick you will ever see in your life both were assisted by him to name a few, he is good defensively, hes aggresive, rarely makes a mistake and usually repairs it, his work rate is insane, and as I mentioned earlier I don't think there are many fullbacks with so many crucial assist in big moments, hes one of the best right backs in the history of the sport

Man i swear Madrid mastered the art of soaking pressure and strike when it matters the most. As soon as BVB coash subs Adyami who was their best player, Caravjal got more freedom to roam. What a great win by RM.

Carlo is the GOAT, to win 5 CL as a coach is wild

Its Ancelotti. Once they meet up in the dressing room at the half he gives the whole team +5 to every stat.

Because is the only way to activate the power of friendship and the plot armour, these pundits have never watched anime.

They learn their mistakes in the first half and come back in the second half to kill their opponents

Real Madrid learned from Muhammad Ali I feel like. They allow you to do what you do best. They allow you to feel confident. To show them the best move you have in your tool bag. The moment the game reaches the 55th minute or so. That's when the game actually starts for Madrid. They say, "alright you gave us everything now take this." It's not a coincidence every final recently in the champions League won by Real, the first half is dreadful. You can't even believe that they are playing. But boy oh boy do they make you crack once they say it's time to play. Top conditioning. Top mentality. Top performance. They genuinely leave everything on the field.

They absorb pressure and let the other side tire themselves out. And they have the confidence that they can play better when they need to, whenever they need to.

ESPN the music is too loud

For me carvajal always do something at the moment of needs throughout season. Either assist or goal or other contribution

Madrid have the power of friendship and as soon as Ancelotti winks his eyebrow all of a sudden, Real Madrid becomes a different team and clicks into full gear in the 2nd half.

1955-1966.. Real Madrid 6 titles, Inter 2, Benfica 2, Milan 1. They say Ohh that black and white era no competition, franco team and so on. 2013-2024.. Real Madrid 6 titles, Bayern 1, Liverpool 1, Barcelona 1, Chelsea 1, Man City 1. No words needed💯

Real Madrid in the last 20 minutes of the game switched on from the entire game, they looked like what Ancelotti was talking about.

Vinicius deserve his flowers as a world class player ESPN not your biased analysis

I can't believe Don Carlo actually managed Everton. It's like Vincent Kompany managing Bayern Munich, no, wait. Bizarro's World Cup.

Even though Kylian Mbappe is finally going to Real Madrid and I have no issue when world class players go to a club like that, I still think that staying at PSG in the first place was a massive mistake for him. 3-4 years ago was when Real Madrid really needed Mbappe. From 2018-2021, they went through a transitional period where they lacked a genuine superstar after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure they too so many years getting used to not having to rely solely on him, apart from Karim Benzema who was their only elite attacker, their attack was very inconsistent as Eden Hazard was never able to replicate his Chelsea form and was a shadow of his former self, Gareth Bale was nowhere near the squad and Vinicius Junior wasn’t the player that he is right now. At the time they really needed a superstar like Mbappe. Unfortunately he decided to stay at PSG for a little longer and while he’s still yet to win a champions league title even though he played with Messi and Neymar, Real Madrid have been doing well of late. You look at Real Madrid in the last 3 seasons, they’ve won 2 champions league titles their team is stacked so star studded Vinicius Junior is now a world class player and Jude Bellingham has been a great signing for them and the profile of what this team really needs in the transfer market is an out and out striker as that’s the player that they’re still lacking in the team. He had not stayed at PSG, he would have 2 UCL titles by now and we wouldn’t be having this conversation about whether or not they need him. Real Madrid sign the best players in the world and they have no choice but to sign Mbappe because he wants to go there and with him a free agent they know that other clubs would’ve been in the race to sign him. With or without Mbappe it doesn’t matter because they win the UCL regardless of who they have in their team. Getting a player of that caliber on your team will make you even better, but after winning the champions league once again and they’re about to have another Ballon Dor winner on the team, it’s very obvious to football fans that Kylian Mbappe needs Real Madrid more than Real Madrid needs him.

As a Barca fan it’s time to admit Real Madrid are the greatest club of all time it’s a honor to be considered their rival congratulations on #15

Don Carlo 2nd half he changed their positions played well took their chances and won Real Madrid don’t play finals they win

They adapt to their opponent

Real Madrid winning gold in English soil is simply a chef's kiss. You literally cant make this up. 😂

The guy just said Carvajal doesn't deserve to play for real madrid.... Why would you say that? 🤔😂

Mikel Obi must feel so sour now, before the game, he said Carvajal, Kroos, Modric and Nacho don't deserve their titles. Now Carvajal scored to shut him up.

People hating on the music but it’s my favorite part ngl lol and these guys are hilariously entertaining as well

Turn down that music on the background. ESPN editors trash af

Carvajal is the best fullback in the world for years, what is these fools yapping about

If a ref gave a second yellow for a dive when there was actual contact, in a big game like this, that ref will never work for UEFA again

Sound guy drinkin Frank's Champagne in the back.

They have a binding how restricting their stat by 20% in first half, which gives them additional 20% (120% cumulative) stat boost in second half

Antonio Pintus is the answer. Even during the 3 peat. The players physical levels are outstanding.

Frank definitely doesn't watch Real Madrid's games. Or do any of them? Anyways!

Tony Kroos is bigger than Barca

I take it that's the sound guy's way of handing in his resignation?

The halftime dressing talk: “Coach is right! If we work as a team we can win!” 😂

Dortmund have surprisingly played very well, but as long as they didnt score the first goal in the match, I never had the feeling they would win

TURN OFF THE MUSIC PLACE

The Madrid shirt activates ultra instinct on players to clutch the win.

They have the squad depth they have the experience so i was pretty sure if dortmund doesn’t kill madrid early then slowly madrid gonna find rhythm and once that happens the engines are heated then its tough to stop 🛑

Not only was the music too loud, it was unnecessary as well. It's never necessary for talk segments on any show but ESPN insists on drowning everything with boring elevator music

In game adjustments are so under discussed and undervalued

This question is too nice and I think the reasons are : 1) to better control the style of game of the opponent and 2) to let the opponent getting tired.

Music decide to stay loud 😂😂

CRY EPL FANBOYS, LA LIGA WINS AGAIN😂

Because they have an excellent Manager who knows how to study game

They have made it their own, great team

It's just 3 things 1. Insane Mentality 2. Unprecedented self-believe 3. World class players Usually it's 4 with the fourth one being the refs but not this time..They won against Dortmund fair and square

Carvajal in terms of titles is the best RB of all time. In pure footballing terms, he might not be the flashiest full back or the fastest, but he is the epitome of hardwork, discipline and mental strength. For a 'less talented' player, the number of crucial assists he has given is insane. He might not be the same as he was between 2015-2020, but he is still a workhorse. Also, he was the only one who kept Lahm out of Bundesliga team of the season in his prime. It wasn't a fluke.

Good that Dan said it - the 'music' is always 💯% too loud, as Ale might say 😢😂

I have been a madrid fan for a long time. Let me say one thing - it's one thing to win now and another thing to win without modric and kroos

Real Mad has so many legends to send off.

The guy in the soundbooth is a Madrid fan. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Real Madrid are in the business of winning and second place is an utter failure with no excuses. Compare to the English PL where coming second is somehow acceptable, even applauded e.g. Arsenal. This is wjhat sets the superior Spanish teams, owners and fans apart from the inferior English.

I hate to say it but Real managed the game perfectly once again, they know when to pick their moments. Dortmund were going all out during the game but didn't score and it cost them in the second half. The first goal is lazy marking and the second goal was a mistake from a tired and dejected player. There is a reason why you almost never see Real extremely tired, they stay disciplined defensively without exerting themselves. Real knows that Dortmund's scoring window passed after those misses.

What’s with the music volume? Someone forgot to turn it down after being told 😂😂

There is two key turning points in the game: 1. The switch beteeen Kroos (to 6) and Camavinga (to 8) which created more balance and calmness in the midfield. I am amazed how no pundit in the world has noticed this😅 2. Subbing the quick left winger (Adiyeme?). The chance where Adiyeme hit the post was offside mate, so what chance?

Yeah is good to put the music down we want the analysis

The reason is because “gegenpressing” is a playstyle that Madrid struggles to create chances against so teams press high early to try and get a goal and Madrid focuses on being strong defensively. However, you can’t sustain this playstyle all game because your players get tired, and then once the pressure drops and Madrid becomes more comfortable on the ball, they score. Even back to the Zidane days they won UCL games like this.

Thank you Jude for your Massive impact on the team since the beginning of the season. Future Ballon D’or for sure unlike the chokers Kane and Musiala. 😂😂

Mbappe the new Kevin Durant in club football ... But in international football he was already the man twice 2018, 2022 (world cup has a higher status than the Olympics I feel)

Ending games before the other team can score is definitely one of them

Im a Madrid fan and Ancelotti got the tactics wrong in the first half by pressing on Borussia. They should’ve held a low block instead that way BVB’s pace wouldn’t have been a problem. Rightly so they adjusted during the second half and after adyemi got subbed it was a different game.

Stevie Nicol backing Kevin Durant 😂amazing

14:35 lmao Dan 😂

Congratulations King of Europe 👑 ❤️ 👍 💯

The music is too loud and annoying to listen. ESPN please remember next time.

0:45 they actually listen to the music when doing the show 😂

Real Madrid have a burning desire to win, they've experience & their team chemistry is second to none. Don Carlo has the ability to change things, mix things up. They can play without fear; they can play with fear & defend a lead.

I swear that background music was heavily inspired by Funkytown by Lipps Inc.

The music is a lil loud

The music jeeesshhhhh

To the first question. Real Madrid actually do play better in the last 15 minutes. They also reserve energy until then. Especially players like Valverde.

I promise you this, if Pep was coaching Madrid, it will be much more about why is Pep special moreso than why Madrid is special. It was this same coach that brought Madrid La Decima, brought change in the dressing room and open the door for more trophies. I want pundits to talk more about the coach. This dude has 5 UCL trophies as a coach, man that’s massive.

RM is a well managed club both inside and outside football ground

It's Kroos n Modric show. The dsy both of them leaves RM will not show this level of consistency. We will see the cracks next season.

Good defense + tired opponent leads to a win.

What a game and a victory and we know who will be coming this Summer HALA MADRID

All tongues must confess and all heads must bow down this is the greatest team of all time

the problem with Kevin Durant joining the Warriors (who were a superteam at this time) was because he joined them RIGHT after they had just won the championship. Which to some seemed like a cheap thing to do

They rely on cortois to bail them out like jurgen did with Allison. Real madrid like Liverpool rely on other team tiring out on second half and making mistakes which is what happened.

Please lower the ambient music

Madrid plays like this normally, not always. Usually Madrid starts games relaxed, playing very calm and then turns up the heat in second to try and win. Sometimes we start hard like vs Bayern in Bernabeu.

Stevie’s logic is really good lol... soccer and basketball are different though lol

8:20 Finally, respect to Dan & the producer for even mentioning Uefadrid

same way ali test out his opponent strength and weaknesses in the first few rounds.

Do we need Mbappe? Well yes! The fact that Reap is doing so good is the magic of Ancelotti and to some extent players which could run out any moment and then we can hit the bitter reality of having a team without a scorer

Background music TOO LOUD.

He had a header from a corner before that went over the bar

The hocus pocus Ucl winner club , most football fans knew that lol 😆😆

That one right there made me the greatest manager all time - Don Carlo

Vini is a different beast from Madrid he jus needs to maintain that form for Brazil

The Extra Time music volume is usually at 2. Today it was 3.

Real Madrid is a family, the club is united and strong, everybody doubted us even the ESPN pundits, but Real Madrid always wins it at the end, next season will do it again. HALA MADRID

Two words: Rope-a-Dope...😂😂

Madrid always gives you a reason to seem salty. smh

Music was still too Loud

Simple, Madrid give the illusion of looking weak and vulnerable and with a little luck, surviving the barrage of attacks from the opposing team. In the second half once that team is out of steam they just continue to absorb pressure and then release their own attack when the moment is right.

Frank Lebeouf still Real Madrid hating.

I'm asking, please tell me who is better than calvajah in the world? Because his so underated. The best offensive full back. All these pundits are mediocre.

Because the game is 90 minutes long, not 30 or 45. It seems that Real Madrid are the only team that understands this! 15x CL winners 🤯🤯🤯

ESPN the music is too loud.