Tactical analysis proposition : Atletico Madrid 🔴⚪️ - Betis Sevilla 🟢⚪️
With a tightened defensive line, central, willingly letting lanes free, Carvalho and Betsi have taken advantage on the left lane during these first 10 minutes (wrong scan from Hermoso).
When a team decides to play with a central defensive line (as Real Madrid does), you have shot angles near penalty box to utilize. Knowing Carvalho shot's ability, this was a good way to get chances from Betis.
Concerning Atleti's build up in its own defensive 3rd, Trippier slide into right back position and abandoned temporary his piston function. De Paul always between the lines to turn quickly if he receives the ball and drive offensive transitions.
This action illustrates how well Atleti midfielders and forwards have navigated in half spaces. Here, RDP gives the ball to Correa. At the same time, Trippier takes his piston's role back and can bring an interesting passing option.
Betis insisted on the right lane, with many inverted combinations between Montoya and R.Sanchez to blur manmarkin. Montoya runs behind while R.Sanchez adresses magnificent vertical passes. Again, Carrasco didn't take information, scanned too late.
On the paper, Betis was in a 4-2-3-1. In reality, it seemed more to a 4-3-3 out of possession with Carvalho attacking spaces to catalyze build up. This was risky, when you look at vertical solutions William has (0 drop off) and the number of atleti players waiting for a ball loss
Off ball, Betis implemented a malleable 4-3-3 depending on ball location. It was very harmonious and the regular off the ball pattern from Pellegrini.
Atleti, consequently, had to dislocate this 4-3-3 so that De Paul could be in a position to receive the ball (2nd photo).
Atleti, consequently, had to dislocate this 4-3-3 so that De Paul could be in a position to receive the ball (2nd photo).
Betis has a very pleasant 4-3-3 to watch for one reason : players could be in other positions (here Carvalho as number 9, josé as right winger), off ball structure remains the same. And that made Alteti build up more difficult in 1st half, because of that discipline.
Rodrigo de Paul is the key player of Altetico Madrid, but not only for his passing skills : mostly because he knows how to make the opposent move and receive the ball. Then, he drives offensive actions with short or long balls.
Concerning Betis defensive animation, it has frequently been jeopardized by diagonal runs, especially from Griezmann. We don't see (bad streaming quality) but Edgar's body orientation is not efficient to block Griezmann.
Hermoso was able to do this pass, thanks to Carrasco's intelligent move to slide into the lane to make Montoya think he will receive the ball. His move has stretched the whole defense and opened a huge space for Griezmann.
In Atleti's mid third, build up was made difficult by excellent placement from Betis 4-3-3. That is why pistons stretched lines as much as possible.
You have to man mark Koke or De Paul. Here, in one passing scheme, Koke escaped from José's surveillance and led to a very dangerous transition. Atleti short passes were devastating.
A defense dislocated, Griezmann easily jumped into that space created. Again with a diagonal run. He change his run's direction at the last moment, Pezzella didn't accompany.
William José didn't make right choices in the last 30 meters. Forget letting to ball to R.Sanchez was a terrible mistake, because the plan was to take numerical advantage on lanes, not by doing vertical passes facing an axial/compact defense.
Atleti understood Betis off ball structure, and waited until a passing angle opens, to overthrow this solid organization. De Paul, again, had been excellent in his positioning during this game.
Another brilliant move to overthrow defensive organization from RDP and then could initiate passing scheme on lanes.
It took some time to fix it, but as soon as De Paul was not trapped anymore from Betis 4-3-3, everything changed. He loves taking the ball from a lower position, do massive progressive runs and unbalance opponent's midfield with it.
Atleti switched build up in their own build up. Trippier in a lower position and Hermoso as a LB. This helped atleti to switch zone more easily and finding more passing options. This build up led to the opening goal.
Concerning Betis build up, Atleti automatically formed a structure to block Guardado (key player). When Betis evoluated on lanes, we have seen this staircase structure, which blocked passing angles and moves in half spaces.
Atleti's pressing structure in 2nd half reflected the will to close the game quickly. A strong 2-4 structure, in which first opponent's pass provoked high pressing, Betis frequently panicked and played long random passes.
But that offensive line of pressure to cover width and harass ball carrier has also been efficient for Betis in second half, Hermoso and Trippier have been frequently ended up in difficult situations.
With Edgar's progressive runs or triangles creations on the left side with a back 3 in build up (most of Betis offensive actions came from here), Betis attempted various on ball animations to overthrow that solid off ball 4-5-1 implemented by Madrid.
I also wanted to point out huge participation from both strikers (José and Suarez) in build up, playing in lower positions, creating unbalance, be at the core of passing schemes and not simply waiting into the penalty box.
Loading suggestions...