Dybala and Güler bring their between-the-lines creativity to Roma-Real Madrid

Dybala and Güler represent two kinds of talent between the lines. Wednesday’s Roma-Real Madrid brings the two left-footed players together, with an eleven-year age gap: Dybala is 32 and Güler is 21. Both can spot pockets of space and use them to move the ball forward, while Gian Piero Gasperini and José Mourinho look to give their teams’ attacking play greater purpose.

Their careers have taken different routes. Over the course of his career, the Argentine has passed through Instituto, Palermo, Juventus and Roma; the Turkish player joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahçe. Güler arrives with good numbers and positive signs. At Real Madrid, which is seeking greater continuity in possession, he can connect the start of a move with the moment to accelerate it.

His positioning presents Mourinho with a tactical question: should Güler move closer to the flank to stretch the play, or come inside to help build attacks? At the start of the season, Mourinho had considered a future move into a deeper role. “I love Güler. I think something similar will happen to him as to Modric or Bernardo Silva. You start in one position and end up in another. You start as a 10 and will end as an 8, a 6. I think Arda will head in that direction as he develops and gains an understanding of the game,” he said.

Against Villarreal, Real Madrid only began to function better in the second half, when Güler took on the task of building play and Valverde moved to the right. The Turkish midfielder is seeking to establish greater influence in the team. Roma, meanwhile, has just seen another use for Dybala’s creativity: in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Como, after Donyell Malen was sent off, the Argentine helped his team keep possession and find ways out under pressure.

Gasperini kept Dybala as the attacking reference point and praised his ability to draw the ball, give the team breathing room and help Roma advance. At Como, the Argentine provided that option while his team protected its goal. After the win against Torino in September, Gasperini had also praised the partnership between Dybala and Malen. Dybala has a teammate to receive his ideas, while Roma has a pair capable of adding depth to its attack.

Both players need teammates to make runs and deliver the ball in a position where they can use it. A pause, a well-directed first touch or a pass can then make the difference. For Güler, the challenge is to establish himself in this role at Real Madrid; Dybala performs it with the experience he has gained in Italian football and under a coach who demands intensity.