Real Madrid – Atlético Madrid: Academy Star Rescues A Derby Day Draw (1-1)

Real Madrid left it late to rescue a point against ten-man Atlético Madrid. Academy player Álvaro Rodríguez made another impact from the substitutes bench to break through the visitors’ resolute rearguard.

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Smoothy.


This Madrid derby was sandwiched in between two important cup games for the home side. But with the hosts eight points behind Barcelona in the league and local pride at stake, their focus was firmly required back on LaLiga matters. 

Atlético Madrid visited the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu unbeaten in their last six league games, winning four of their previous five. This form had taken them into fourth and with no other competitions to contend with, qualification for the Champions League was their sole priority. 

Carlo Ancelotti made four changes to the side that beat Liverpool at Anfield in midweek. Replacing the injured David Alaba and Rodrygo were Nacho and Marco Asensio and freshening up the midfield were Toni Kroos and Dani Ceballos, who came in for Luka Modrić and Eduardo Camavinga. 

Diego Simeone also made changes to a winning-team, following their victory over Athletic Club in the previous gameweek. Stefan Savić, Pablo Barrios and Saúl Ñíguez started, with José María Giménez and Ángel Correa dropping to the bench, and Rodrigo De Paul was ruled out through injury.

The visitors manager came into this fixture making history, by taking charge of his 425th LaLiga game for Atlético Madrid, the highest any manager has ever overseen for one club in the Spanish top flight. Not only that, but the Argentine also matched Luis Aragonés’ record tally of managing 612 competitive matches for the club. A night of personal celebration for Simeone that he would have likely not want spoiled by his city rivals.


Gameplans only get you so far

In the first half, whilst Real Madrid generated numerous attempts on goal, it was certainly more the case of quantity over quality. So whilst clear goal scoring opportunities may have been nothing to write home about, each side’s constantly shifting systems was an interesting, and influential, narrative of the game.

Out of possession, Atlético Madrid were extremely hybrid. When defending high they tended to form a 4-4-2 formation, with Marcos Llorente pushing up alongside Antoine Griezmann. In a medium block, they varied between 4-5-1, 5-3-2 and 5-4-1 systems, with Llorente dropping into the midfield line and the ever-moving Yannick Carrasco playing on both midfield and defensive lines.

And finally, in a low block, it was predominantly a 5-4-1 structure. However, regardless of the formation iteration, the overarching objective was clear – block central areas of the pitch. 

Aware of all the above, when Real Madrid had possession, their 4-3-3 formation (on paper) was going to be extremely fluid. Their attacking tactics seem to revolve around occupying and building play on the outside, to then try and manufacture gaps on the inside which they could then exploit. 

The main ways the home side did this were, firstly, Kroos dropping deeper, in between or on the outside of the two center-backs, Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger. This allowed the experienced German playmaker to find time and space on the ball, in front of the oppositions defensive block, to dictate play.

Secondly, this also allowed both fullbacks to advance higher and combine with their nearside center-back, midfielder and wide forward on the flanks. In addition to this, at times, the central midfielder on the other side could also roam over to the opposite side of the pitch to provide a further overload opportunity out wide. And Karim Benzema could do the same too, but he tended to have his usual left-hand side bias. The hosts would therefore utilize this fact to draw the opposition over to the left and then switch play to the right flank where they could have an opportunity to overload the opponent.

On Real Madrid’s right-hand side, a key feature of their attacking play was positional interchanges between Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde and Asensio. These three players would constantly rotate; with one maintaining the width, one inside as an interior and another deeper. The objective of this tactic was to disrupt the opposition markers, by using their movements to pull their opponent out of position and/or making it unclear who they needed to cover.


18th minute: Real Madrid attacking sequence. Kroos, in his deeper position, switched play to the right flank to Carvajal providing the width. The right back then passes inside to Asensio and at the same time, an initial deeper, Valverde makes an overlapping run where he receives the ball, before crossing for Benzema inside the area who cannot keep his half-volley below the bar.


But whilst Real Madrid did have the majority of possession and shots in the first half, Atlético Madrid were able to restrict the quality of chances they created. In addition to this, they tried to exploit any possible attacking transitional moments available. And whilst they were unable to turn this into any end product, they at least kept dragging Real Madrid back towards their own goal.

In addition to this, as the home side were relatively passive without the ball in their 4-4-2 high block, the away side were able to progress into the middle and final thirds and then have their own spells in possession. In these phases of play, Real Madrid dropped into a 4-5-1 structure.

With the ball, much their defensive shapes, the visitors offensive systems could take on various forms. However, the problem for Atlético Madrid was that whatever system they were using, with a forward line consisting of Llorente, Saúl Ñíguez, Griezmann, Carrasco and then one of their fullbacks, they lacked any real penalty box presence.


The ‘sucker punch’

At half-time, Atlético Madrid made a substitution, bringing on Ángel Correa for Barrios. This looked to give the away side more of an attacking focal point. This change also slightly reduced the number of out of possession systems they were using, limiting them to either a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 formation.

Despite a good Benzema chance in the 49th minute, in which he failed to get a decent connection on the ball, the away side looked more of a threat in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, both in attacking transitions and controlled spells of possession.

However, in the 64th minute, everything changed when the referee spotted an off-the-ball incident between Correa and Rüdiger and adjudged it worthy of a straight red card for the Atlético Madrid player. Whilst there had been an elbow to the chest, it felt a harsh decision, but one the away team had to deal with.

And what better way to respond than taking the lead just over ten minutes later. The away side won a freekick in the opposition half, and following a late run from deep, José María Giménez (a first half substitute) managed to glance the ball into the far corner to take a 1-0 lead in the 77th minute.


Patient approach pays-off

Following the red card, Atlético Madrid formed a 5-4-0 shape out of possession which meant that Real Madrid were pretty much camped in front of them. 

In the final ten minutes of the game, the home side had been much changed, with Luka Modrić, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and academy player, Álvaro Rodríguez now all on the pitch. 

Despite trailing by a goal and having the man advantage, the hosts persisted with their patient approach. Much like the first half, they were going to try to work the ball from side-to-side, moving the opposition in the process, and then try to manufacture gaps centrally they could exploit. And in the 85th minute, they nearly found success, with a Camavinga shot from inside the penalty area, but his attempt was diverted behind for a corner kick by Jan Oblak.


84th minute: Real Madrid attacking sequence versus Atlético Madrid 5-4-0 shape. Camavinga and Modrić exchange a one-two on the edge of the area which results in the former shooting and winning a corner kick. From the resulting set-play, the home leveled.


It was from this resulting set-play in which youth graduate, Álvaro, made his second impact from the bench in as many weeks. But with this one being that much sweeter and more important. From an inswinging corner, the young striker arrived late to meet the cross and divert it into the far corner to send the sides level and the young center-forward into dreamland.

Real Madrid continued to pressurize for the remainder of the game, but much like the previous eighty-five minutes, they struggled to find the attacking solutions to break down a resolute Atlético Madrid defense. 


Takeaways

Whilst Atlético Madrid will feel aggrieved about the red card (and quite rightly so) and Real Madrid will feel frustrated that they failed to capitalize on their overall dominance, and man advantage, in truth, neither side can complain about the final scoreline. It was telling that both goals were scored by set-pieces, as neither side demonstrated much quality in the final third.

Looking towards the rest of the campaign, Ancelloti, and his side, may now feel the league might be out of their hands, but they still have plenty to play for in two cup competitions. As for the visitors, under Simeone’s stewardship you can expect them to remain exactly as they have done in his previous 612 matches in charge. Competitive, resolute and defensively minded, but with the ability to get results on their day.



Plots will be added as soon as possible.

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