Atlético Madrid – Athletic Club: Simeone Sneaks Towards Solid Ground (3-1)

Atlético Madrid are hovering in unfriendly territory. The lack of tier European competition for the first time in 12 years was a real threat. It was time to go back to their roots. A solid second half showing stifled their challengers as a significant supplement toward their top four charge.

Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

Atlético Madrid are managing their way through a phase of transition. It is unusual for the outfit to have only the sixth best defensive record in LaLiga. In truth, the bastion of a bulwark that was their pride and joy has ceased to be. A 3-0 defeat to Barcelona cut them adrift of the top three, where they have ended up in every single year that Diego Simeone has been in the dugout. But the Metropolitano Stadium could be the stage for an even more worrying plot if the hosts were not ready for this fixture.

The last time that Athletic Club picked up 58 points in a campaign was in 2017. Their final six outings offer the opportunity to finish in the top four for the first time in more than a decade. Only three points off . . .