By Neel Shelat
Atlético Madrid’s smash-and-grab win over Barcelona this weekend noticed them bounce to the highest of La Liga’s standings for the primary time this season, whereas neighbours Actual Madrid adopted them into second place with a win over Sevilla. With these outcomes, the final spherical of fixtures in 2024 has set us up very properly for an exciting title race between the same old suspects.
Atlético Madrid: Defence nonetheless Simeone’s key to success
Atlético Madrid’s summer season switch enterprise was fairly eye-catching. They spent huge on a few star attackers, underscoring a shift in method away from the sometimes dogged and defensive Diego Simeone facet. The problem for the Argentine tactician then turned to seek out the best formulation to get the most effective out of a top-heavy facet.
Initially, Atléti confronted varied issues. Simeone began the season with a again three formation, although he was reluctant to place Antoine Griezmann, Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth all in the identical beginning line-up. Maybe because of the new additions, the assault didn’t fairly click on instantly, however the breaking level in all probability got here on the different finish.
Los Colchoneros appeared to forsake their defensive division amidst their heavy attacking spending, particularly leaving it skinny when it comes to high quality. They now not had absolute rocks on the again, so a 4-0 thrashing by the hands of Benfica within the Champions League precipitated Simeone to change his method. After a little bit of experimenting, he reverted to a superb old school 4-4-2 and has caught to it since.
By selecting to drop right into a strong low block out of possession, Atléti have managed to shore up their defence. They’ve conceded the fewest targets and lowest xG tally in La Liga to date and positively appear like the most effective defensive facet within the division.
As for the assault, Simeone has discovered an fascinating formulation whereby Griezmann and Alvarez begin most matches within the entrance two, whereas Sørloth makes an affect off the bench. The Norwegian striker has not began a league sport in over two months however has scored 5 of his eight targets in that interval, together with three game-winners. In reality, Atlético’s substitutes have registered 22 aim involvements within the league between them this season – a determine greater than 11 groups’ whole aim tallies!
After profitable simply 4 of 9 LaLiga and Champions League matches by which they began with a again three, Atlético are on a 12-match profitable streak proper now. Clearly, Simeone has discovered the best formulation for this facet.
Actual Madrid: Los Blancos lastly firing?
Defending champions Actual Madrid might need been anticipated to enhance even additional following the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, however that has not confirmed to be the case. They lengthy struggled to get their rejigged assault to click on, whereas current defensive points had been exacerbated within the tighter matches.
Discovering the best position for Mbappé has been certainly one of their greatest challenges because the French ahead will not be an out-and-out striker however can’t be shifted too far out to the left to make sure Vinícius Júnior stays unhindered. With each of their greatest superstars favouring the left facet, Los Blancos have additionally develop into a bit of too unidimensional at occasions.
Even so, there have been some promising indicators in latest video games. Though accidents have prevented Mbappé and Vinícius from beginning too many matches collectively, they confirmed some good link-play in opposition to an admittedly weaker Pachuca facet within the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The French celebrity’s subsequent efficiency in opposition to Sevilla was fairly encouraging too, with Ancelotti himself stating that “His adaptation interval is over.”
Jude Bellingham additionally appears to have sufficiently readjusted right into a extra connecting midfield position after being the workforce’s chief aim menace final time period, whereas Rodrygo has chipped in with some useful contributions from the best. Even when they’re removed from their absolute best, this Actual Madrid squad merely has the irresistible particular person high quality to significantly compete on this title race. In the event that they additional enhance in 2025, they might even run away with it.
Barcelona: Wheels falling off for Flick’s facet?
Barcelona had been quickest out of the blocks at first of the season as Hansi Flick’s facet gained 11 of their first 12 league video games, racing to a nine-point lead. Even on the time, although, analysts warned that they’d wrestle to maintain such a stage of efficiency all through the season, and their premonitions have come true even perhaps sooner than anticipated.
Barça have picked up simply 5 factors from their final seven league matches, shedding to Actual Sociedad, Las Palmas, Leganés and Atlético Madrid in that interval. Whereas a few of these outcomes had been unlucky, a lot of Barcelona’s points had been uncovered in these video games.
Most evidently, their excessive defensive method is beginning to get punished as opponents at the moment are frequently breaching their insanely excessive line of defense. Barcelona have conceded the eighth-most targets in LaLiga, however their underlying numbers are even worse.
Harm points haven’t helped their trigger, although they solely have themselves guilty for his or her lack of squad depth. That will also be cited as a problem of their assault, as they’ve insufficient backup for the ageing Robert Lewandowski and 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. The Catalan giants’ monetary state of affairs will not be going to get any higher anytime quickly, so they’re reportedly set to face squad registration points as soon as once more within the January window.
The one constructive for Flick’s facet is that they nonetheless have the most effective underlying numbers within the league due to a free-flowing first-choice assault, Except they enhance in different respects, although, they may absolutely discover it tough to win the league with simply that.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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