Atlético Madrid – Athletic Club: Rojiblancos Substitutes performed Magic (1-0)

The sternest defense in LaLiga clashed against Athletic Club, who were in an undefeated league run stretched back to October 2024. Diego Simeone's options on the bench worked magic, securing the three points for Rojiblancos. Nevertheless, defensive set pieces are still Atlético Madrid's kryptonite.

Tactical analysis and match report by Achraf Lamdarhri.

One man's meat is another man's poison. Atlético Madrid rivals across the city are crumbling. Real Madrid managed to win only one single game out of the last five fixtures. Manuel Pellegrini and his team were the last to exacerbate Carlo Ancelotti's situation in LaLiga. Thus, there is an opportunity for Barcelona and Atlético Madrid to push Real Madrid into the third spot of the league table.

Diego Simeone's players snatched a late big draw against Barcelona at Montjuïc having conceded four goals and lashed the same amount of the balance in the Catalans' net. A draw that kept the scale of their Copa del Rey final qualification chances in check until they clash again in Wanda Metropolitano in the second of April. However, it revealed Atlético Madrid's vulnerability in defensive set pieces that Diego Simeone must resolve before an all-or-nothing campaign waiting for him around the corner in March.

Athletic Club is marching steadfast toward a UEFA Champions League qualification next campaign, accumulating 48 points that enable them to sit in the fourth place. They are undefeated in LaLiga since their 2-1 loss against Girona back in the sixth of October 2024. Their last game saw them trounce Real Valladolid, banking seven goals in their net . . .