Except for La Liga, Real Madrid has this amazing quality of striking when the opponent expects it the least and even slightly controls the game. Chelsea was not playing a bad game but then again Real Madrid was there. The same was against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey when Barcelona thought they have a chance after the first leg, but Real Madrid struck back brutally. The 0-4 didn't leave any questions open whatsoever. You can see that they are not giving 100% in La Liga anymore, but they are one of the few teams who can change their game depending on the competition. Napoli tried the same in Italy, let Serie A go a bit and then play well in the Champions League, but now we know the result.
One of the most dangerous of Real Madrid is the counter attack. yes, each player has individual skills that really don't need to be doubted. last night's game, Chelsea actually put up a fight that was no less exciting, they had several opportunities that should have been maximized properly. it's a shame, their finishing was really bad and the brilliant action was shown by Thibaut Courtios to keep the goal from conceding. In the first half, Chelsea were more dominant in possession of the ball. it's a shame, the attacks they build don't have a structured scheme. I don't completely blame Lampard, but it seems that the system he has implemented is really ineffective.
Meanwhile, the tactics that Don Carlo applied were effective, they allowed Chelsea to have more control over the ball. The problem is, every chance Real Madrid has is very dangerous. in particular, when Madrid counterattack quickly. and, goals ensued. for the match vs Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, I have reviewed it before. because in that match, Barcelona did not play its starting eleven. Naturally, if Barcelona lose.
But by the way, this is something that makes El Real fans happy. yes, Madrid has the right to advance to the next round phase. congrats to Los Blancos.
That is the balance that Real Madrid currently is striking so well. They used to be a team with more ball possession in the past, but that is quite some time ago. All these years they have focused more on their efficiency and as you said, their counter attacks are extremely strong these days. Now usually they try to get a good result in the first leg like they did against Chelsea because then their counter attack strategy works out perfectly. The difference against Barcelona in Copa del Rey is that they had to lead the game due to being 0-1 down. That is what makes them strong, Real Madrid can do both. They are not only a counter attack team, they are also a team that can take control and put pressure onto the opponent. I think most of this strength is because of their midfield. They know at any time what pace to choose for the game.