Scouted: Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone's quiet rebuild.
Diego Godin; Juanfran; Gabi; Filipe Luis; Diego Costa.
When I think of Atletico Madrid, I can’t help but let my mind be drawn to players of that ilk and the 2012 through 2016 era. Yet football is full of misconceptions and opinions built on lazy stereotypes, and Diego Simeone’s modern side might be the biggest of them all.
Over the last five years, Atletico have won a LaLiga title, finished third four times and reached two Champions League quarter-finals while having a negative net spend of £53.1million (€61m), which ranks as the fifth lowest out of sides who are currently in Spain’s top flight.
Los Colchoneros is Diego Simeone, Diego Simeone is Los Colchoneros. However, they’ve changed together over his 12-year stint.
Particularly since their league title in the 2020-21 season, Atletico have attempted to alter their style of play, and the players with it. The big-money transfer of creative forward Joao Felix was the signpost of this revolution, even if the Portuguese international — who never seemed an ideal fit — ultimately flattered to deceive and is now on loan at Barcelona.
When comparing the last three seasons, Simeone’s side have improved year upon year in the attacking metrics. Since the start of 2021-22, they have scored .84 more goals per 90 and attempted 114.6 more passes per 90.
A slightly adapted and more progressive style has been clearer this season, and Simeone seems to have found the perfect balance by utilising a 5-3-2 system, which provides a strong defensive foundation while also maintaining an offensive threat.
GAME ANALYSIS: ATLETICO MADRID 3-1 REAL MADRID
Right, I’m now gonna contradict almost everything I’ve previously said, as the game I believe that has shown Atleti at their best was their convincing win in El Derbi Madrileno in September.
This was a more pragmatic, almost ‘classic Simeone’, approach. However, the game state must be taken into account. Four minutes in, Alvaro Morata opened the scoring; 14 minutes later, Antoine Griezmann had made it 2-0. Toni Kroos’ stunner made things interesting, but Morata restored Atleti’s two-goal cushion early in the second half, and I do truly believe this was a game decided by the two gentlemen on the touchline.
Atleti set up in their 5-3-2 formation, which worked perfectly to counter Los Blancos’ narrow 4-1-2-1-2.
Atleti taking such an early lead was crucial.
As you can see below, Samuel Lino, a wide forward playing at wing-back, who was one of the few positives at Valencia last term while on loan at the Mestalla, consistently found himself in vast amounts of space.
In this example, Lino drives into the space afforded to him and crosses for Morata to make it 1-0.
Due to the aforementioned narrow system employed by Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid struggled to hold coverage across the pitch and their full-back — Lucas Vasquez and Fran Garcia — were often left isolated.
The below graphic shows just how focused Atleti were on their rivals’ weaknesses. However, they did have substantially more success down the left-hand side — Lino was absolutely pivotal here.
While on loan at Valencia, Lino played in more advanced areas as an inside forward coming in from the left. Los Che finished 16th, just about scraping clear of relegation, with Lino scoring six goals and assisting another.
He has carried that form into this campaign, albeit in a different role.
We must add the caveat that these numbers account for the past 365 days, so will include his time as an attacker and a defender. However, Lino has proved himself so far this season to be incredibly dependable, well balanced and most importantly a strong replacement for Yannick Carrasco, who departed for Saudi Arabia in the transfer window.
Lino was certainly a standout in the Madrid derby. In which, when Simeone’s team did have the ball, their primary shape was as such:
Jose Gimenez would receive the ball, the second line of possession would attract Madrid’s front four to press, leading to plenty of space for the two eights (Marcos Llorente and Saul Niguez) to receive and carry.
For the third and final goal of the game, this exact sequence occurred.
The average positions show just how pivotal Gimenez was to Atleti’s possession, with the Uruguayan able to comfortably receive the ball and play out while under pressure.
A final point on their in-possession game, and this one allows me to wax lyrical about Morata.
Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are high-calibre, vastly experienced defenders, yet Morata was adept at finding space close to Madrid’s goal, with his poacher instincts on show.
Morata’s relationship with Griezmann suits both players — they form a classic front two. They are always within distance of each other and able to play off their partner, and this likely plays a big part in Morata’s ability to create space in dangerous areas.
Now, to the more standard Simeone analysis. Having taken a two-goal lead inside 18 minutes, it’s no surprise that Atleti subsequently let Madrid dominate the ball. But, it meant they needed to demonstrate they still have that knack of keeping the ball out of the net.
They would adjust defensively depending on where the ball was situated on the pitch, defending the space rather than focusing on Madrid’s attackers.
When in their higher block, depending on what side the ball was, the back five would adjust and move across to create a four, allowing the opposite wing-back to form a midfield three, which in turn would allow the eight pushing up to complete a 4-3-3.
Due to Madrid’s lack of threat from the wings, Atleti were happy to stay compact and cover the central spaces.
As the ball transitioned further down the pitch, the back five would become more compact, reducing spaces between the lines. Griezmann would move out wide to create a bank of four that would attempt to marshal Madrid’s full-backs, but also their wider midfielders in the diamond.
Once the away side had advanced the ball into a dangerous position, Atletico would revert back to their 5-3-2 shape and sit deep on the edge of their own box.
It has been a quiet rebuild from Simeone, but after struggling to keep pace with either Madrid or Barcelona in a title race in the past two seasons, Atletico look well set to be there or thereabouts this season.
As it stands they sit third, three points behind Girona and Madrid, but with a game in hand. They look well placed to progress in the Champions League, too, with five points from their three games so far in a group that also includes Celtic, Feyenoord and Lazio.
It’s not the Atleti that you’d expect if buying into the stereotype, though there are of course elements of the Atletico of old at times.
But with Morata and Griezmann leading their line, and the likes of Lino shining, this could be another fantastic year for Simeone.
By Alfie Biggs