THREAD :
Tactical Analysis and Takeaways from the 1st-leg Game between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.
(Video analysis to be posted later, if time permits)
Tactical Analysis and Takeaways from the 1st-leg Game between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.
(Video analysis to be posted later, if time permits)
Let's start with Atletico's defensive structure as it was perhaps the most defining tactical aspect of the game.
Simeone's men defended in a 5-3-2, and started the game with notably-high intensity and aggression.
Simeone's men defended in a 5-3-2, and started the game with notably-high intensity and aggression.
Their 2 forwards would often block access to United's pivot (Typically Pogba & Fred), and their midfield block would start narrow and central to provide extra cover to prevent United's central progression.
Further more, as I mentioned before, Atletico did an excellent job at covering for the primary defensive weakness of the 5-3-2 formation (narrowness of the midfield block) by having the right member of the 5-man block step up at the right time.
One frequent way with which they switched from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2 was having Lodi push higher, particularly whenever Lindelof was about to receive, in a clear attempt to capitalize on the offensive shortcomings of the Swedish defender.
Speaking of Lindelof, it was speculated that he might have started to allow the team to take a 3-1-4-2 offensive shape, but as the game progressed, it was clear that he was started for pure defensive reasons, and he did indeed stand his ground against ATM's dangerous left side.
One more thing worth mentioning in regards to Atletico's defensive display is the excellent defensive shift from their forwards, be it in terms of pressing or tracking back, even all the way to their own defensive third.
All in all, United struggled severely against this combination of intensity and organization, with multiple United players showing questionable decision-making and losing the ball for fun.
Even in the 2nd half, where Atletico lowered clearly their intensity & aggression (while United raised theirs) and sat back - mostly in a 4-4-2 - United still created little to no danger until their late equalizer, which came through a quick transition.
Given how the match played out, Atletico's settled attack shape was hardly on display, as was - of course - United's defensive shape.
Whenever they were briefly on display, the former was either a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2, usually (the more secure) 4-4-2,
(1/2)
Whenever they were briefly on display, the former was either a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2, usually (the more secure) 4-4-2,
(1/2)
while the latter was usually a 4-5-1/4-4-2, with Bruno pushing up next to Ronaldo and Sancho dropping to a FB position at times.
Atletico's method of choice to progress the ball was through long balls from deep and 2nd balls. No interest of building up from the back.
Atletico's method of choice to progress the ball was through long balls from deep and 2nd balls. No interest of building up from the back.
One important detail is how Correa's and, especially, Felix's agility and technical ability, and resulting competence at dealing with pressure and limited space was vital for Atletico.
It allowed them to push the ball out of their areas and into United's and to "break the game" by winning multiple fouls.
Now to the ever-controversial topic of Cristiano Ronaldo.
CR7 did everything he usually does : Made many striker runs (unpicked =/= non-existant), provided a dynamic progressive option between the lines, & constantly offered an easily-accessible outlet during counter attacks.
CR7 did everything he usually does : Made many striker runs (unpicked =/= non-existant), provided a dynamic progressive option between the lines, & constantly offered an easily-accessible outlet during counter attacks.
However, a large chunk of his actions didn't fall under these categories, and stemmed from him adjusting excellently to the specifics of this particular game.
Quickly recapping said specifics before talking about these actions should be helpful.
Quickly recapping said specifics before talking about these actions should be helpful.
1- Atletico defended in a 5-3-2, geared to prevent/limit central progression.
2- Bruno, Rashford, and Pogba had very forgettable performances.
3- Offensively-limited Lindelof was used as a RB. Shaw didn't offer much offensively either.
2- Bruno, Rashford, and Pogba had very forgettable performances.
3- Offensively-limited Lindelof was used as a RB. Shaw didn't offer much offensively either.
4- The main weakness of Atletico's formation was the narrowness of the midfield block.
5- Simeone told Lodi to push high whenever the ball was played into United's right flank.
5- Simeone told Lodi to push high whenever the ball was played into United's right flank.
Looking at all this, CR7 realized that the team desperately needs his help with progression, and figured out what the best methods to provide such help are.
With that, he constantly :
1- Created midfield overloads to help with wide progression.
With that, he constantly :
1- Created midfield overloads to help with wide progression.
2- Tried to facilitate switches of play, be it by dragging defenders then facilitating the switch FROM his overloaded side or by positioning himself in a good spot to receive the switch TO his underloaded side (from the opposite overloaded side, of course).
3- Attempted to capitalize on the space behind the up-running Lodi (Remember, it's harder to adjust to cut a pass while running at speed), whether by being the middle man (Between Lindelof and Sancho) who PASSES into that space or the aggressive runner who RECEIVES in it.
The first two categories of actions are clear attempts to exploit the narrowness of Atletico's midfield block and to avoid the blocked road down the middle, while the third is an attempt to capitalize on the "Lodi Tactic".
I will try to post "video proof" of all of this, but if you carefully watch the game back on your own, you'll see it clear as day.
All that said, I must make it clear that this doesn't change the fact that Ronaldo went through the same extremely unfavorable situation & dilemmas elaborated on in the thread below (He even faced 3 CBs in both cases).
While United failed to capitalize at the vast majority of Ronaldo's intelligent movement and actions all over the pitch, CR7 was very sharp and crisp in possession, showing excellent link-up play and hardly putting a foot wrong.
On Atletico's end, Lodi assisting Felix was fitting, as the left side featuring the two and Reinildo put on a show and caused constant issues for United. In addition, Kondogbia had a very dominant display in midfield, being swift in possession and winning duels for fun.
The main lesson for Simeone was typical : When you have a chance to kill the game while being clearly superior, take it before sitting back. There is a good chance that if Atletico started the second half with the same intensity, they would've scored a 2nd, changing everything.
For Rangnick, the most obvious change for the 2nd leg would be Elanga over Rashford.
Elanga would provide added aggression with his off-the-ball runs. This tendency of his would crucially free Ronaldo to leave the box more w/o worrying about it being empty in his absence too.
Elanga would provide added aggression with his off-the-ball runs. This tendency of his would crucially free Ronaldo to leave the box more w/o worrying about it being empty in his absence too.
Rashford provides little to no added value at the moment, while his very faulty decision-making - and at times technique - cost the team heavily.
I would also drop Bruno in favor of McFred and Pogba at the moment, but that's too unlikely to expect.
I would also drop Bruno in favor of McFred and Pogba at the moment, but that's too unlikely to expect.
END OF THREAD
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