TACTICAL ANALYSIS: ATLETICO 4-2 REAL MADRID | SIMEONE MASTERCLASS
Let’s analyze Simeone’s gameplan to eliminate Real Madrid. We start seeing Real Madrid out of possession in a 4-4-2 with Vinícius in the first line of press and Bellingham as the left winger. In the Super Cup final Ancelotti used a 4-2-3-1 with which I think Real Madrid occupies the spaces better. Simeone took advantage of the weakness on Real Madrid’s left side, pushing up the wing-back and generating numerical superiorities.
Atlético de Madrid’s first 3 goals came as a consequence of this weakness. In the first, an overload on the right wing with Morata playing with his back to goal and with De Paul free.
Atlético de Madrid into the final third and another thing that Simeone’s team did very well regarding the Super Cup semi-final is that Atletico placed many players attacking Real Madrid’s last line, generating doubts in the defense. Here, for example, it’s Carvajal who is threatened by Lino and Saul. Rudiger is going to take a step forward that will cause Real Madrid’s final mistake. Nobody pressing De Paul who throws a cross and Rudiger makes a mistake clearing the ball, scoring Samu Lino the first goal.
In the second we see the same weakness with Llorente dragging Bellingham to the central lane, Hermoso drives and switches the play receiving Koke who is waiting on the right wing. Vinicius and Bellingham arrive late, a poor positioning by Camavinga that doesn’t cover the passing lane and a critical mistake by Lunin and Rüdiger that allows Morata to score the second goal.
In the third goal the same with Vinícius losing the ball. Bellingham is in the center of the field so he won’t be able to drift to the wing to give support. 5 Atlético de Madrid players waiting in a mid block for the turnover to launch the attacking transition. The turnover occurs, Vinícius chases Griezmann and we see another defensive error, in this case by Tchouaméni and Nacho who retreat into the box and neither comes out to help Vinícius.
Griezmann finishes with a great shot, Lunin doesn´t come out of the goal, poor decision as he kneels on his right knee, which is the furthest from the near post, leaving more space for the finish, Griezmann scoring the third goal for Atlético de Madrid’s victory against Real Madrid with a great gameplan by Simeone.
