Match analysis: Real Madrid – Atletico Madrid

By Michail Tsokaktsidis

Real Madrid defeated Atletico in the second leg of the Champions League

quarterfinals. This was a match which had many similarities with the first leg. Real

took advantage of Turan’s red card and just before the final whistle and extra time

they managed to score and qualify.

Match up

1st Half: Different players in the first eleven but same formations and

tactical aims

ATLETICO: Diego Simeone started with the usual 4-4-2, but with some changes in

his first eleven as regards the first leg. This affected his left side as well as the two

defensive midfielders. So Gamez and Saul replaced Siqueira and Koke. Koke was

placed in a defensive midfielder’s position (replacing Suarez) next to Tiago. The last

one replaced Gabi. Simeone’s decision about starting with Gamez and Tiago

probably had to do with Ancelotti’s (forced) selection of James instead of Bale, and

Ramos instead of Modric, as the characteristics of Atletico players matched with

these of Real Madrid’s. Despite the changes in several players as regards the first

leg the tactical approach from both coaches remained the same in all phases of the

game.

So Atletico during the defensive phase tried to stay compact. The shifting was

synchronized as well as the pressure on the ball. Their aim was to limit the available

space for Real players, create a strong side and numbers up around the ball zone.

By this way the player in possession was blocked near the side line.

Simeone wanted to prevent Real from taking advantage of Ronaldo’s pace as well

as Real’s creativity in open spaces. So he chose his players to defend within the

defensive third by retaining short distances between each other. Furthermore both

Mantzukic and Griezman contributed during the defensive phase by staying close to

the midfielders.

The four defenders were placed 16-20m from goal while the midfielders 5-7m from

the defenders.

Only in cases that the ball was on Casillas’ possession, (as well as in throwing ins)

Atletico stayed high in order to make it difficult for Real to build up from the back and

force them into long (fifty-fifty) balls.

When the ball was moved to the 3 midfielders of the opposition, their aim was to

prevent the vertical through balls towards a player placed between the lines. That’s

why Tiago and Koke were very close to the central defenders Miranda and Godin,

forcing Real players to play square passes and move the ball near the side lines.

When the ball was moved near the side lines, there were always 3-4 Atletico players

(fullback, side midfielder, central midfielder and forward) who put pressure on the ball

while the others retained at the same time balance and numbers up inside the box.

As regards dealing with Ronaldo, Juanfran was close to him and the central

defender Miranda provided cover. In this cases Tiago, dropped into a central

defender’s position.

In the very few cases that one of Real’s players made a run behind the back of the

fullbacks or the side midfielders, there was a shift from the central midfielder or the

central defender of the strong side to mark him. In the second of the cases the

central midfielder provided cover to the central defender, (Tiago provides cover to

Godin on the picture).

The same happened several meters higher when Isco or Ramos moved behind the

back of the fullbacks. The central midfielder of the strong side provided immediately

cover, while in some cases even the forwards contributed (picture).

Blocking the forward play near the side line resulted the pass towards the centre and

then towards the other (weak) side. But Atletico were well organized defensively and

Real players were out of effective attacking positions.

Due to the numbers up (3 v 2) in favor of Real in midfield after the first 15 minutes,

Griezman dropped back towards the left and Saul shifted towards the centre in order

to compensate for it. The formation was now more of a 4-5-1.

During the attacking phase Atletico didn’t try to build up from the back. Oblak made

long balls targeting Mantzukic while at the same time two Atletico players made

moved up to provide support and win the 2nd balls. Their main aim was to retain

possession better than they did during the first half of the first leg and slow tempo

down. This was also obvious when there was a free kick or a throw in in favor of them

as they went really slow to bring the ball into play.

The most characteristic tactical move during the attacking phase of Atletico which

aimed the creation of an overloading near the sidelines, was the shifting of Turan.

The last one despite the fact that he played on the right, he used to move towards the

left to create an overload. The same did Griezman especially when he dropped into

side midfielder’s position. As soon as this was carried out the aim was making the

cross targeting Mantzukic and one more player who usually entered the box.

Additionally there were many times that Mantzukic provided support near the side

line and there were total 6-7 Atletico players aiming to retain possession. Then they

tried to exploit the numbers up situation and use combination play in order to move

the ball to a player behind Real’s defenders.

A basic aim was also taking advantage of the set pieces (free kicks, corner kicks, as

well as throw ins).

Real Madrid: Carlo Ancelotti having unavailable Benzema, Bale, Marcelo and

Modric, he chose to start with Pepe and Varane as central defenders while Ramos

was moved in midfield together with Kroos and Isco. In comparison with the first leg

James was moved on the right and Hernandez on top. Ronaldo started on the left

but he mainly had a free role and moved in all attacking positions.

Coentrao on the left was more attacking minded than Carvajal, due to the fact

that James mainly took a wide position. So the right fullback of Real moved forward

to provide support from behind and make crosses from a low position.

Ronaldo had difficulties when he played near the side lines, and when he

moved in the middle and between the lines he was blocked as the spaces were

limited. On the other hand Hernandez moved a lot and provided support to his

team mates.

Real Madrid struggled to make forward (vertical) passes and moved the ball from

side to side trying to switch the point of attack quickly and find available space and

Atletico disorganized and unbalanced. They tried to put pressure on the opposing

defenders by bringing the ball inside the box using crosses from various angles as

well as from set pieces around the penalty area.

The best scoring chances (2 or 3) for Real came through negative transitions. Once

through quick combination play by James and Hernandez (12’) as well as in the 44th

minute when Carvajal won possession from Saul and passed immediately to

Ronaldo.

Real put immediately pressure during negative transition and regained possession

quickly as Atletico were low behind the ball and there wasn’t much support to the

player in possession.

2nd Half:

Simeone replaced Saul with Gabi and switched to 4-3-3, but during the defensive

phase was 4-1-4-1.

However Real show much energy and put more pressure to Atletico. The players’

movement with or without the ball was improved and Isco played better. Isco moved

towards the inside and played vertical passes (49th minute pass to Hernandez), and

worked in collaboration with Coentrao and Ronaldo. The trio used combination play

on the left and made several crosses. At the same time Real continued to carry out

effectively the negative transition.

In 64’ Simeone replaced Griezman with Garcia in order to strengthen his right side

(Griezman had switched positions previously with Turan). In 76th minute Turan was

shown the red card and this proved to be decisive for the match’s outcome. Atletico

was forced into more passive role now. The formation was changed to 4-4-1 with

Koke on the left, Garcia on the right and Tiago together with Gabi in the centre.

Real put more pressure as Atletico was unable to retain possession. Hernandez’s

shot in 80th minute was the warning. Simeone switched to a five man defence

bringing in Jimenez in the place of Tiago (85’) in order to go to the extra time.

However two minutes before stoppage time Rοnaldo, James and Hernandez

worked in collaboration, took advantage of Atletico’s unbalanced defence and scored

the winning goal.

Conclusion: The two matches between the two were similar as regards the tactical

approach from the coaches. Atletico relied on their good defensive organization but

Real was better in all phases of the game. Ancelotti’s team proved that teams need

something more than only good defensive organization in order to win trophies.

Atletico maybe were the Primera Division champions last year and champions league

finalists but this was usually the exception of the rule.