1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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).

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.