What was not enough for Atletico to go through City
Post image

What was not enough for Atletico to go through City

24 Apr 2022
luka
The main theme of the first match is the mutual obsession with control to the detriment of creating chances. Many elements of that meeting migrated to Madrid. Atletico’s scheme for positional defense is 5-4-1. In the first match, Diego Simeone had to look for the best option to contain his opponents right along the way (started with 5-3-2, tried 5-5-0 and stopped at 5-4-1). Now he used a variation that proved to be most effective a week ago: The structure of City, when owned, did not involve any particular risks. Walker stayed close to the center-backs. Rodri was also nearby. Only João Felix from Atlético remained against this four. Possession of the ball was easy, but there were not enough options above. And even with such ratios, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva (sometimes together) were sometimes lowered to advance Atletico had some problems in controlling the flank of Riyad Mahrez, where Simeone’s team has hybridity and rebuilding with Lodi’s advances, but these moments disappeared at half-time. The overall picture was grassroots, and scoring chances were an anomaly. The caveat (and the main difference from the first match) is the pressure from Atlético. The hosts regularly met City with six players in their own half of the field. Striker Felix started the pressure, all four midfielders supported him, and Lodi also advanced. The ball area was clamped as tightly as possible, and compactness was maintained on the far side.

 

Second half: pressure and verticality from Atlético, reinsurance and betrayal of style from City

The second half was really fiery. For the first time in this confrontation, a goal for one of the teams looked like a necessity, not a bonus. Atlético won this half on possession (53% to 47%) and shooting (13:2). The possession advantage may not be particularly impressive, but the context is important: firstly, when returning the ball, Atlético did not keep it for a long time, but quickly aggravated it (advancements were preferred to control, even if the part was unsuccessful); secondly, possession zones are important – Atlético really managed to pinch City. Now Atletico pressed the guests in every attack – and this brought either tackles in the opponent’s half or long-range clearances for City. The pressing structure was the same as in the first half. The difference is in the frequency of episodes of pressure. In this regard, the reaction of Atletico in episodes in their own half of the field is indicative. Now they did not wait (as in the first three halves), but tried to transform such moments into a situation for pressing. Here, especially for this, Lodi abruptly moves forward, he is supported by Felix and the others. A major turning point from City’s point of view is the move away from short plays. On the 57th, Ederson decided not to flirt with the pressure of Atlético anymore and sent the defenders higher under the far start of the attack