Why Atletico Madrid has everything to trap the Barça – The Équipe.fr

Because Atlético do everything defensively

1) Back to hinder recovery

This is perhaps the provision that bothers most Catalans because they rarely experience it. The desire to seek high players Luis Enrique has certainly a strong risk of exposure to the face MSN. But if the movements are well coordinated, Barca often takes time to adjust. Villarreal (after Bilbao early in the season) has given a new striking example before the international break, although the Blaugrana seemed less concerned (2-2). Bakambu’s teammates had recovered 13 balls into the box. Atlético, best defense in Europe knows perfectly weave its top pressing on the ground. At Camp Nou, on January 30, his starts was a model of its kind, with the aim of Koke reward (10th).

The high pressing Atlético against Barcelona.

On the first image, Griezmann race ( yellow) will force Mascherano to take even more back and Atlético will have had time to slide to prevent the overthrow and the output ground Barça (second image).

2) Very low to close

the other risk generated by this option is the players ability to bear the physical burden throughout the match. Bayern Guardiola, radical in its high pressing, had paid the price in last season’s semi-final of the Champions League (3-0), crisp in the last quarter of an hour. But the formation of Diego Simeone knows fold and one can imagine that it will therefore alternate between the two “extreme”, according to the rhythm and how the game. High pressing and therefore decline to the surface

the 11 Atlético’s players gather in the center close to the maximum all the passes of lines in this area and guide Barca to the sides.

Because they will not present

the offensive power of Barça makes any loss of ball in his problematic or even dangerous side. Again, Atlético carries the philosophy to avoid this pitfall maximum. During the 65 minutes spent on the site by Diego Godin during the last meeting between the two teams, the Uruguayan defender has only attempted 9 assists (!). Simeone’s men know perfectly out properly when you need it, but it is rarely the défenseursqui initiate actions.

passes Godin against Barcelona. (@Statszone)

By isolating the first 25 minutes, matching the best time of Atlético against Barcelona (11 against 11), the conclusion is obvious. The Colchoneros have not built in exposed areas. The axial zone is virtually empty. On the whole game, the first Madrid defender in number of passes (Juanfran, 19 assists) successful is only 17!

In blue, successful passes. (@Statszone)

Because his attackers like to dive in the corridors

Align in a free electron role around Antoine Griezmann, Yannick Carrasco had hurt Barca in January. The Belgian had infiltrated the corridors (especially the left) to take advantage of the spaces left by the side and, as we have seen, provide solutions passes less exposed to the release of the ball. Convalescent, it should however not be tenured Tuesday. But Fernando Torres and French striker exhibit profiles perfectly compatible with that will align the races of the axis outwards even if the Spaniard is less comfortable than the Belgian in small spaces.

the recent conflicts between the two teams have always highlighted beautiful contrasts of style and gave hooked and high quality matches. Atlético de Madrid has the means to seriously annoy Barca and has already demonstrated. This time, his performance will find an echo on the scoreboard for the last 6 matches, Griezmann and his teammates have always lost.