Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid: How Real Survived Despite Their Mistakes (1-2)

Real Madrid edged Atlético de Madrid 2–1 in a derby that was decided by moments of inspiration. The game became a showcase of how small positional decisions, both in and out of possession, shaped not only the flow of the match but also where each team found joy and discomfort.

Tactical analysis and match report by Sebastián Parreño.

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The match started with a surprising goal and a surprising tweak from Madrid’s part. Xabi Alonso set up his squad in a 4-4-2 formation out of possession, with Courtois in goal and a back four of Carreras, Rüdiger, Asencio and Valverde. Rodrygo and Vinícius played as the wide midfielders, while Tchouaméni and Camavinga formed the double pivot behind a front two of Gonzalo García and Jude Bellingham. Structurally, this was the same defensive system Alonso has relied on for most of the season, but the roles within it were flipped in a way that immediately raised questions. Instead of Vinícius acting as a striker and Bellingham sacrificing himself on the left. Throughout the season the roles between them has been inverted, with Bellingham wide on the left and Vinicius as the striker.

The decision was puzzling given Vinícius’ known difficulties in tracking runners down the flank and his preference for staying high to be fresh for counterattacks. That choice became even harder to justify against an Atlético side that has consistently attacked this season by pushing both fullbacks high to provide width, demanding constant defensive attention on the outside.

Atlético’s asymmetric build-up and right-sided focus

In possession, Atlético built their attacks with a clear asymmetric logic. Llorente hugged the right touchline in an advanced role, while Gallagher dropped from midfield to fill the right-back space left by Llorente,  meaning Koke would operate as the lone pivot. This created a 3+1 build-up structure that still preserved width on the right. On the opposite flank, Ruggeri mirrored Llorente’s height, stretching the pitch and enabling Baena to invert into central areas. He would play alongside Julián Álvarez, in another controversial decision, this time by Diego Simeone.

Rather than playing as a pure striker or in a partnership with Sørloth, the Argentine was used as a midfielder, something that has coincided with a dramatic drop in his attacking output. Atlético instead relied on Sørloth as the reference point up front, with Giuliano Simeone narrowing in from the right to support him.

Atlético’s shape in possession during the first half against Madrid’s 4-4-2

From this structure, Atlético repeatedly sought a 3v2 on Madrid’s left side, combining Gallagher, Llorente and Simeone against Vinícius and Carreras, with Camavinga having to help them to avoid this scenario. It was a targeted attempt to exploit Madrid’s inconsistencies in tracking back, their lack of compactness, and their less than idea passing lane coverage. 

Atlético’s press and Madrid’s build-up collapse

Without the ball, Atlético pressed aggressively and with clear individual responsibilities. Sørloth pressed Asencio while shadow-marking Tchouaméni, Gallagher stayed tight to Camavinga, Álvarez stepped onto Rüdiger, and Simeone tracked Carreras. Baena took care of Valverde but initially held a deeper position to guard against long balls. Koke hovered near Bellingham before jumping onto Tchouaméni once circulation began, while Pubill followed Bellingham if he dropped, while Hancko marked García. Ruggeri and Llorente took Rodrygo and Vinícius respectively.

The result was suffocating for Madrid. Tchouaméni and Camavinga struggled to involve themselves in the build-up, often standing too far from the ball, remaining static, or allowing themselves to be easily marked. With little confidence in central progression and few safe options, Madrid were repeatedly forced long. Courtois attempted 34 long balls, the highest number of his Real Madrid career, a stark reflection of the fear of playing inside and a structural issue Alonso still needs to solve.

Madrid in possession and an early punch

When Madrid did have the ball, Alonso pushed both fullbacks high, aware that Atlético’s wingers would drop to fullback height, leaving space for Madrid’s centre-backs to operate. The first line formed a 2-2 with Tchouaméni and Camavinga, while Vinícius held width on the left and Valverde on the right. Carreras occupied the left half-space, with Bellingham and Rodrygo moving freely between the lines.

The game was turned on its head almost immediately when Federico Valverde scored after just 76 seconds with a thunderous free kick from distance, evoking memories of Roberto Carlos. That goal flipped the script before the play even began, forcing Atlético to dominate possession and chase the game. Madrid still found moments, with Oblak denying Rodrygo in the 28th minute, but defensively they looked fragile. Courtois had to save from Sørloth in the 33rd minute following a corner, and the Norwegian then headed wide from close range shortly after, with the goal at his mercy.

Simeone’s halftime gamble and Madrid’s second goal

At halftime, Simeone made a change looking to shuffle things around. He introduced Le Normand for Gallagher. The idea was to place Le Normand as the right centre-back, push Pubill to right-back, and move Llorente into midfield. This would allow Giuliano Simeone to play wider, while Llorente would be the one between the lines looking for him. On paper, it promised more stability and control.

In practice, it backfired almost immediately. Atlético’s press lost intensity at the start of the second half, allowing Madrid to progress with time and space. In a sequence, Atlético were positioned as if they were executing their high press, but in practice, it lacked all the intensity and intention. This meant some players were caught in a bad position, specially one. Le Normand stepped out of position to check Camavinga, and this opened a chain reaction. Bellingham switched play to find a free Valverde, while Rodrygo drifted behind Koke. Confusion followed as Koke tried to pass him on to Le Normand, unaware that the centre-back was higher up the pitch. Gonzalo García’s dummy run dragged Hancko out of his spot, clearing the lane for Valverde to release Rodrygo behind the defense and a trailing Le Normand, to then finish the one-on-one to make it 2–0.

Atlético’s response and Madrid’s recurring weakness

The second goal injected urgency into Atlético’s play, and it was at this point that Madrid’s out-of-possession flaws became most visible. Atlético repeatedly combined down the right through Pubill, Simeone and Llorente, breaking into Madrid’s half with ease. Pubill, nominally Vinícius’ responsibility, surged beyond him into the box, pinning Carreras and opening spaces inside. A simple one-two saw Llorente release Simeone behind Vinícius’ back once again, and with Carreras arriving late due to Pubill’s positioning, Simeone had time to deliver a perfect cross for Sørloth to score over the smaller Asencio.

How the Atlético goal happened, with them exploiting Vinicius’ lack of awareness and unwillingness to track back the runners 

With Llorente now operating inside, Atlético consistently found him between Camavinga and Vinícius, exploiting the Brazilian’s failure to track deep runs from both Simeone and Pubill. The pattern was clear all game long for Atlético: get deep, cross early, and look for Sørloth. Atlético created further chances this way, but once again lacked efficiency in front of goal.

Alonso’s correction and a chaotic finale

After 60 minutes, Alonso reverted to the structure he has trusted for most of the season, moving Bellingham back to the left and pushing Vinícius up as the striker out of possession. The impact was better than their initial formation. Madrid became more compact, Atlético found it harder to attack down the flanks, and Vinícius’ speed offered a more consistent threat in transition against Atlético’s shaky defensive rest structure. The change only amplified the question of why this was not the original plan.

Madrid’s problems were not over, however. Both Rüdiger and Asencio were forced off with apparent injuries, leaving Alonso to improvise a back line of Carreras, Mendy, Tchouaméni and Valverde, effectively fielding two left-backs and two midfielders in defense. Atlético continued to threaten, missing several good chances in the closing stages, with Madrid still vulnerable to blindside runs. A crucial block from Tchouaméni prevented Griezmann from reaching a dangerous cross late on, preserving the lead.

Takeaways

The derby underlined how fragile Madrid’s build-up remains under coordinated pressure and how their defensive stability is not there yet, as specific role assignments can change everything for Alonso’s team. They are still very much fragile out-of-possession, with players that are not attentive to their assignments.

Atlético, for all their structural clarity and right-sided dominance, once again paid for inefficiency in the box and for risky adjustments that disrupted their own balance. Julián Álvarez hasn’t scored a goal in La Liga since November, and he hasn’t scored an away goal in La Liga since August, at the first match of the season. As he continues to play out of position, Simeone will remain answering questions about the level of the player that many thought was his best one.

The win gives Xabi Alonso some breathing room, but the injuries at centre-back and the unresolved midfield issues leave little margin for error ahead of a looming final against Barcelona, a game that might decide the Madrid’s coach future.

hasn’t scored a goal in La Liga since November, and he hasn’t scored an away goal in La Liga since August, at the first match of the season.