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Real Madrid taking Route One to glory? Why the long ball still matters in elite soccer

It is one of the most tried-and-true tactics in (American) football: beat 'em down with the short stuff -- a good run game, a good, quick passing attack -- and when the deepest defenders are leaning in the wrong direction, hit 'em deep on the play-action bomb.

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In a way, you could say that the play-action bomb has saved Real Madrid's season, but we'll get to that.

Beating your opponents by playing off of your own tendencies is a common and often deadly tactic in any sport, of course, but it was still a bit jarring -- and exhilarating -- to see maybe the two most impactful goals in the quarterfinals of both the Champions League and Europa League produced by long balls.