Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid boast the meanest backline on the continent this season – but in need of a win they may open themselves up at the other end, writes Lee Roden...
Saturday, January 30 could turn out to be the most important day in the 2015/16 La Liga title race. With only a game in hand between the two teams at the top of the table, Barcelona host Atlético Madrid knowing that a win would not only seal a head-to-head advantage over the Colchoneros, but also help them towards a potential six-point advantage.
Luis Enrique has a problem, however. With only eight goals conceded in 21 league rounds, Atlético Madrid have the most effective defence in Europe by a distance. Breaking that unit down will be incredibly difficult, and likely require plenty of focused work in training. So how can it be done?
1. Exploit the space behind the full-backs
If opponents can make an accurate pass into those areas after winning a ball, the chances of completing a successful counter-attack are much higher
A huge part of Atlético’s attacking strategy is the width provided by their full-backs, and that inevitably means there is sometimes space left behind them. If opponents can make an accurate pass into those areas after winning a ball, the chances of completing a successful counter-attack are much higher than going through the middle, where players are better positioned to resist the break.
That’s exactly what happened in September, when Benfica took a rare 2-1 win over Atleti at the Vicente Calderon. In the build-up to the Portuguese side’s winning goal, the Colchoneros attacked down the left through Filipe Luis, with the ball eventually making its way over to the opposite flank.
Juanfran was unable to keep possession in the Benfica box, however, and the away side capitalised with precision. A quick one-two behind the right-back allowed Nico Gaitán to sprint into space, and he then switched play to the opposite side for Gonçalo Guedes to finish just before Filipe could get back and cover.
Atleti will be more conservative against Barça than they were at home to Benfica, but with Diego Simeone’s side currently trailing the Catalans in the vital head-to-head stakes that would decide a tied league, they will need to push bodies forward at some point in search of a goal. When they do, an accurate ball behind the full-backs from any of Barcelona’s best passers could undo them.
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2. Attack Gabi
He has a propensity to attempt to win the ball early, and while many of those challenges come off, they also carry a degree of risk
Atlético Madrid’s captain is a fierce competitor who is vital in maintaining high levels of intensity across the team, but he isn’t perfect. Gabi has a propensity to attempt to win the ball early, and while many of those challenges come off, they also carry a degree of risk, meaning he can be exposed by players with a strong first touch.
An example came in the Colchoneros’ last league game, a 0-0 draw with Sevilla, where one of the Andalusian side’s most dangerous moves was helped by a Gabi error. In the 36th minute, when a lofted ball was played behind Juanfran, Gabi was seemingly well positioned to cover. Sergio Escudero’s good touch upon receiving the pass allowed him to wrong-foot the over-eager midfielder, though, and the Atleti man slipped, leaving his opponent free to enter the box with time to pick out another Sevilla player for a shot.
It’s no coincidence that Gabi tends to struggle against Neymar in particular when Barça and Atlético meet. The Brazilian has the perfect combination of pace and technique to make the midfielder suffer. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see that happen again on Saturday.
3. Use dead-balls wisely
When these two teams met earlier this season Barça regularly drew fouls from the Madrid side in central positions just outside the Atleti area
One of the secrets to Atlético’s defensive success is how rarely they allow opponents a clear path into their own box. When not in possession, the Rojiblancos treat their area like the home base in a game of Capture the Flag, throwing everything possible in front of rivals to make sure they don’t get near the goalmouth.
Sometimes that means conceding a foul on the edge of the area rather than letting an opposition attacker through, and while Diego Simeone’s side are generally good at defending set-pieces, it isn’t a fool-proof approach.
When these two teams met earlier this season Barça regularly drew fouls from the Madrid side in central positions just outside the Atleti area. One of those instances allowed Neymar to score through a direct free-kick; similar instances could provide some of the Blaugrana’s best chances of scoring at the Camp Nou.
Considering Atleti just conceded from a set-piece against Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey, while Gerard Pique just netted from one for Barça against Athletic, the case for one of the Catalan side’s free-kick specialists doing damage on Saturday looks strong.
4. Sniff out a Giménez mistake
He is more prone to lapses in concentration than his three defensive team-mates – no surprise considering he is around 10 years their junior
Atlético’s back four is one of the best around, but even they commit the odd blunder. José María Giménez in particular is more prone to lapses in concentration than his three defensive team-mates – no surprise considering he is around 10 years their junior.
The most obvious of those slip-ups came in October, when Atleti were leading Deportivo 0-1 at the Riazor. Until the 76th minute, Giménez’s game had been flawless, but at that moment the young defender attempted to protect a loose ball so it would roll out for a goal-kick. Instead, he miscalculated and Lucas Pérez robbed possession, giving the striker a one vs one with Jan Oblak that he finished off to rescue a point.
Barcelona will be well aware of the centre-back’s tendency to relax as the clock rolls on: the winning goal during their previous meeting with Atlético in September was helped by one such occurrence.
In the 77th minute, with Atleti holding on to a 1-1 draw, Giménez wandered away from his spot in the middle of the defence in an attempt to break up a Barça passing move. Instead, Atleti lost the ball, and with one of their centre-backs out of position, both Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were left with rare space in the box. The Uruguayan released Messi with a one-touch pass and Atleti conceded, losing the match.
It only takes one mistake to undo a perfect game and allow Barcelona’s front three to punish you – but can they sniff out a similar error deep into Saturday’s encounter?
