Atlético Madrid – Getafe: Atlético Flex Their Muscles With Easy Win (1-0)
Going into this match, Getafe had not scored a goal against Atlético Madrid since 2011. The impressive streak remained intact, as the malleability of Diego Simeone’s 3-5-2 formation resulted in another clean sheet - right in the face of an increasingly dispirited Getafe side.
Tactical analysis and match report by K.T. Stockwell.
There was much consternation around Atlético Madrid last season, when the team failed to take advantage of a weakened Real Madrid and Barcelona and cement themselves at the top of the LaLiga table. That anxiety seems to have dissipated in 2020/21 as Diego Simeone has embraced a change in tactical approach, which has seen the club wrestle control of first place heading into the New Year.
Simeone has preferred a 3-5-2 formation this season and he stuck to his guns on Wednesday night against Getafe. The recognizable back three of Felipe, Mario Hermoso and Stefan Savić got the start, while a suspension to Kieran Trippier saw Šime Vrsaljko got the nod at right wing-back – across from Yannick Carrasco. Marcos Llorente Koke and Thomas Lemar were selected in midfield – backing up a front two of Luis Suárez and João Félix.
2020 has proven less agreeable for Getafe, whose truculent style persists, but thus far has failed to deliver the type of results the club had become accustomed to over the past two seasons. Now flirting with the relegation places manager José Bordalás has an uphill climb into a comfortable mid-table position.
Getafe approached Atléti with their usual 4-4-2 shape with Ángel Rodríguez and Jaime Mata selected to lead the line. A hard working combination of Nemanja Maksimović and David Timor . . .
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