Eibar – Atlético Madrid: El Pistolero Fires Atléti To Narrow Victory (1-2)

Aiming to extend their lead at the summit of the table, Atlético Madrid faltered to Eibar's 4-3-3 pressing shape. While their star of the future started on the sidelines, a talisman of the past bagged a brace to provide the difference between the two sides.
Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

In spite of finding their off-ball intensity again this season, the results for Eibar have not yet matched. Getting just six points from their last seven games has seen the hosts slip down the table into fifteenth place. Now two points ahead of the bottom three, they hope to allay fears of the drop sooner instead of later. 

Surmounting the setback of a 2-0 loss to their city rivals last month, Atlético Madrid have since been in perfect form. Five wins from five have left them four points clear of Real Madrid with two games in hand. They now looked to claim another three points and cement their status as the title favorites.

José Luis Mendilibar sent out the hosts in a 4-3-3 setup. Alejandro Pozo dropped in at right back after playing higher up the flank against Levante. Thus, the manager only changed two names of the eleven that lost that clash. Sergio Alvárez started in midfield, while Yoshinori Muto played on the right wing.

Diego Simeone went for a system with three central defenders in a 3-5-2 formation. He also made three changes to the starting eleven that beat Sevilla 2-0 in their last league game. Two of these were at the back, where Felipe deputized for the injured Mario Hermoso, while Šime Vrsaljko replaced Kieran Trippier on the right . . .