Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester City: What Someone can learn from Liverpool ahead of the Champions League showdown
There may be no denying that Atletico Madrid’s approach to their Champions League quarterfinal first leg turned into a mistake. A 1-zero defeat to Manchester City on the Etihad last Tuesday became some distance from best as the reigning Los Angeles Liga champions couldn’t even produce a single hazard on purpose. As an end result, no one appears to be convinced that they can flip this tie come Wednesday during the second leg on the Wanda Metropolitano (3 p.m. ET | Paramount+).
Unsurprisingly, Atleti finished with zero.00 expected goals considering that they did no longer document an unmarried shot, that is the incorrect kind of file to set. How uncommon become that? previous to last week, Atletico Madrid have not as soon as been close out in xG considering Opta began tracking the stat back in 2008. They frequently had all 11 players in the back of the ball however could not get the end result they wanted because the city averted Diego Simeone’s attack from functioning nicely in what proved to be, tactically, his most hard suit of the season.
it is obvious that the approach may be one-of-a-kind at home, however, if they leave out the mark again with something modifications they make, they may surely be reduced to spectators the relaxation of the way and notice their EU dream elude them another time. If they are able to pop out with the brink they wanted in the first leg whilst trying to Liverpool’s overall performance against the town over the weekend as steerage, then they can surely pull off something that appears implausible.
Atleti is not a crew that possesses the ball a good deal. In truth, earlier than their loss to man city and following it up with another defeat to Mallorca over the weekend, Atleti had long gone 8 consecutive games without prevailing the ownership conflict notwithstanding doing undefeated over that span. they’re perfectly relaxed not having the ball due to the fact their sport revolves around their press and pouncing on counterattacks. you could discover achievement towards the Manchester United’s of the arena within the round of sixteen or on your common league affair against the likes of Cadiz, Levante, and others. however towards a crew that likes to kill the game with a large ownership charge like Manchester town, a team that has aspirations of prevailing the identify, and a squad that has an embarrassment of riches, you probably do not stand a risk of sitting returned and ready to capitalize off mistakes.
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underneath Simeone, Atleti has been acknowledged for their suffocating stress, elite defensive shape, and execution. Their capacity yr in and 12 months out to slay the most important giants in Europe with properly-timed goals is uncanny. they’ve performed it to Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and lots of others with Simeone having UCL’s very last appearances and 2 Europa and l. a. Liga titles to his name. within the first leg, the primary-ever assembly among the city and Atleti, they confirmed the kind of protective prowess it is built into the DNA of Simeone’s teams, now not conceding till the seventieth minute and doing it without megastar center back Jose Maria Gimenez. The troubles came in attack as it turned into a predictable, inefficient display that changed into some distance from the Colchonero manner. a lot too often it became either Joao Felix or Antoine Griezmann in no guy’s land, surrounded by means of sky-blue shirts and with the best choice being to try to draw a bad.
they will break out of their comfort sector on Wednesday and take more risks than traditional if they’re to keep their ECU dream going. it’s unlikely, specifically with the employees, that they may be capable of significantly boom their possession, and the expectation can be for Manchester City to score. but to face a puncher’s threat in opposition to a metropolis, they’re going to want a complete one-of-a-kind approach to this suit — possibly by means of playing 3 inside the attack.
First, they have to examine what Liverpool did in the 2-2 draw in a town on Sunday. positive, the Liverpool squad is deeper and proficient, however having three in attack to stretch the backline is a need, and we noticed how the Reds controlled Mohamed Salah’s stellar assist to Sadio Mane:
What a ball from Mo Salah
Liverpool is level.
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The city protection will goal to enhance upon its troubles tested against Liverpool, but just one moment can trade this. Atleti have to be equipped, short to move the ball into space and show the exceptional they’ve in the attack. Having Luis Suarez as the target man probably is not the solution because it became Liverpool’s velocity on that goal that genuinely helped them. however, getting Angel Correa into the starting XI on the left and then Joao Felix on the right with Griezmann within the center may additionally give them a shot.
dropping this recreation 1-zero is the same as dropping 2-0, because of this that if you are already losing, then conceding again isn’t always going to matter in case you do not move for it. Atleti, out of any team, have the ability to show this around and pull off a shocker, however, count on the city to score. which means at least goals will possibly be want to have an opportunity of advancing and getting our bodies ahead even as leaving the defense thin is what it’s going to take.
The primary 15 mins of this fit will paint the photograph for us in phrases of what type of model of Atleti we can get. They need to rediscover their aggression, agree within their protection with fewer numbers and simply get greater guys into the attacking scenarios as early as possible.
otherwise, much like the primary leg, they’ll have no chance.
Wednesday’s broadcast agenda
- UEFA Champions League these days, 2 p.m. ET, CBS and Paramount+
- Liverpool vs. Benfica, 3 p.m. ET, CBS and Paramount+
- Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester metropolis, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+
- UEFA Champions League submit-in shape show, five p.m. ET, CBS Sports activities network and Paramount+
