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Home > Blog Post > Team News, Style of Play, Weaknesses – Atletico Madrid | Opposition Analysis of United’s Upcoming CL Opponents

Team News, Style of Play, Weaknesses – Atletico Madrid | Opposition Analysis of United’s Upcoming CL Opponents

Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United

Manchester United face Spanish defending champions Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The Red Devils will be playing the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano tonight. The return fixture will be played at Old Trafford on March 16th. Here’s what United can expect from Diego Simeone’s men in a tricky clash:

Atletico Madrid

Group Stage and Season Form:

Atletico Madrid were placed in Group B, alongside Liverpool, Porto and AC Milan. The Colchoneros had to work hard to qualify from their group. They went through with 7 points (2W, 1D, 3L) at second place while Liverpool secured top position by winning all six group stage matches.

Atletico Madrid began with a 0-0 draw to Porto at home and a 2-1 win against AC Milan at the San Siro. The Spanish side then endured a 3-game losing streak, including losses to Liverpool at both home and away games, which put their qualification hopes in jeopardy.

However, a 3-1 win against Porto and AC Milan’s loss to Liverpool on MD-6 helped the La Liga side sneak through the group stages and into the Round of 16. Knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea last season, Atletico Madrid managed just 7 goals in 6 games this season, while conceding 8.

Diego Simeone’s men have had a rough season in domestic tournaments too. Real Sociedad knocked the Madrid side out of the Copa del Rey in January. Atletico Madrid are currently 5th in the La Liga, 15 points off leaders Real Madrid, with 3 wins and 2 losses in their last 5 league games.

Team News:

Diego Simeone could be without several key players for the important clash. None of Antoine Griezmann, Koke or Yannick Carrasco was involved in a recent training session while there are doubts about the full match fitness of Luis Suarez. Thomas Lemar also missed training after coming in contact with a COVID positive person. Daniel Wass, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Lecomte also missed out on training.

Formation Used:

Atletico Madrid have used 25 different players this season. Simeone mostly prefers the 4-4-2 but also uses a 3-man back variation very often. With Koke’s fitness under the scanner and Manchester United’s fearsome front-line, the Argentine manager may be tempted to resort to a more conservative 3-5-2 set-up.

Atletico Madrid, Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United

Style of Play:

Atletico Madrid are very flexible tactically. Los Colchoneros have held 60% possession in a game on 8 different occasions this season. On 6 separate occasions, they’ve seen under 40% of the ball.

The Rojiblancos are a side reliant on using the flanks. Only 24% of all their attacks are built centrally. Wing-backs like Carrasco, Correa, Lemar, Lodi and Marcos Llorente have all been very important in the wide areas of the field. Atletico Madrid attempt 13.8 crosses per 90 minutes.

Atletico Madrid

Using the wings also makes Atletico more dangerous on the break. The 2014 CL finalists have scored 6 goals from counter-attacking situations, the most in the La Liga.

Set-pieces are another important source of chance creation. 13% of all Atletico Madrid shot-creating actions, and 7% of all their goal creating actions result from dead-ball situations.

Atletico also have a very good zonal action division. Only Barcelona register fewer actions in the defensive third than the Madrid side.

Atletico Madrid

Players to Watch For:

Strengths:

  1. Rodrigo De Paul: The Argentine midfielder has been a vital cog in the heart of Simeone’s system. De Paul is involved across the field, from the defensive box to the opposition goal. He will be licking his lips in anticipation of facing United’s disjointed midfield.
  2. Angel Correa: Correa has been Atletico Madrid’s top scorer this season. Apart from 11 league goals, the Argentine forward also has 4 assists to his name. Simeone has largely utilised Correa from the bench. But a shortage of options could fore the manager to give Correa a run out from the beginning.
Angel Correa, Rodrigo de Paul
Image Obtained Via: laSexta

Weaknesses:

  1. Jan Oblak: Oblak played a crucial role in Atletico Madrid’s title charge last season. However, the Slovenian has had a spectacular slump this season around. Atletico have conceded 34 goals so far this season in the league. In comparison, they conceded only 25 across 38 games last season. This staggering difference is to a large extent, the fault of the 29-year-old shot-stopper.Jan OblakOblak has conceded 10 goals more than his psxG. In comparison, he saved 10 goals more last season than his psxG. Such a startling decline in performances, combined with a shaky defence has left Atletico Madrid vulnerable at the back several times this season. They have managed to maintain only 7 clean sheets from 25 games so far this season in the league.
  2. Mario Hermoso: Albeit a reliable player on the ball, Hermoso has struggled in the defensive aspect. Alternatively deployed as a centre-back or a full-back, the Spaniard has faced difficulties in dealing with pacy opposition wingers. Rangnick has both Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho available for the game, as well as Anthony Elanga. The vulnerabilities of Atletico Madrid in defending width is an opportunity the German could particularly aim to exploit.

Overview:

Manchester United face an opposition that have been in patchy form recently. However, the Red Devils themselves have not been in great form in recent weeks. United will be facing an unfamiliar opposition in a new playing field. The game could be cagey and restricted largely to the midfield.

In spite of the away goals rule scrapped, United will want to make a strong start to their Champions League bid. Atletico Madrid are currently in average form, and the Red Devils should capitalize on it to the maximum possible extent. Bringing a lead to defend at Old Trafford in 3 weeks will serve as a massive confidence booster for the rest of the season.

Adithya Ravi
Football enthusiast. Stat enthusiast

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