Atletico Madrid's 28-Game Home Unbeaten Streak Ends with Defeat

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Hello and welcome to our latest newsletter! In this edition, we'll be focusing on:

1. ⚽Copa Del Rey Semi-final: Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club Bilbao

2. 👉Weekend Recommendations

⚽Copa Del Rey Semi-final: Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club Bilbao

In the thrilling Copa Del Rey semi-final last Wednesday, fans witnessed an exciting match at Atletico Madrid's impressive stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano. The stands were full, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

For both teams, this competition offers a realistic chance to win a title—potentially the only one this season. Atletico Madrid enters this match as the clear favorite, having remained undefeated in 28 consecutive home games across all competitions.

Starting Lineups for Both Teams

1. Half

Atletico Madrid started the game strongly, immediately taking control by initiating attacks. In possession, they shifted to a 3-2-5 system. Savic, Witsel, and Reinildo formed a back three, with Koke and De Paul occupying the midfield. Molina and Lino operated as attacking wingers, while Barrios and Griezmann exploited the spaces between the lines.

Under Simeone, Griezmann has a specific role that grants him plenty of freedom to roam the pitch and exploit spaces, much like Bellingham does at Real Madrid.

In defense, Atletico Madrid maintained a 5-3-2 system, consistent with their initial lineup. A key challenge of this formation arises on the wings, where both full-backs and midfielders are tasked with extensive running to close down the flanks.

However, the advantages lie in the strong central coverage: Three midfielders and two central strikers can create a numerical advantage in the center, while the opponent is directed to the wings. With a five-man defense, both width and depth can be defended effectively, and individual players can move out from the defense to support the midfield.

Athletic Bilbao began with a 4-2-4 formation in their build-up play. Initially, they struggled to maintain possession for extended periods. In their own half (Zone 1), they opted for a cautious approach, frequently resorting to long balls played by their goalkeeper Agirrezabala.

In defense, Athletic Bilbao employed a 4-4-2 system and attempted to initiate midfield pressing. Teams using the 4-4-2 formation typically feature a clear division of the field. The uniqueness of this formation lies in having only three lines - a four-man defense, a four-man midfield, and two forwards. This allows the team to operate in a vertically compact manner, with the four-man lines close together and the two forwards minimizing the distance upfront. As a result, the space for the opponent to operate in can be significantly reduced. The 4-4-2 formation offers high versatility.

The advantages - good balance and high adaptability - are simultaneously the disadvantages of the 4-4-2 system: Although the formation is well-balanced, the defending team doesn't have a clear advantage anywhere on the field. Neither in defense nor in midfield can they easily achieve numerical superiority as with other formations. Another issue is the clear lines: If the defending team isn't careful, the opponent can occupy the space between the defense and midfield or between midfield and attack. Players must ensure that the gaps between the lines don't become too large.

The 1-0 Goal

The opening goal, scored from a penalty, was a result of Reinildo's error. It's clear that Reinildo, still recovering from his ACL injury, hasn't regained his top form. Diego Simeone likely anticipated Bilbao fielding both Williams brothers on the wings, known for their speed, which could explain Reinildo's selection in the starting lineup due to his own pace. However, he seemed unsure and committed a clumsy foul, leading to the penalty and the 1-0 lead.

n my opinion, he was lucky because such a foul could have easily warranted a red card. What's your take on it?

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2. Half

In the second half, Simeone reacted by substituting the unsettled Reinildo for Hermoso. Atletico also began the second half stronger, as they were determined to score a goal. Valverde's team, on the other hand, started off rather passively, aiming not to concede a goal in the opening minutes.

Atlético continued with a 3-2-5 formation during their possession phase, while Athletic Bilbao also stuck with their 4-2-4 system from the first half. However, there was a difference in defense: Simeone's team took more risks and no longer defended with a back five, opting instead for a back four in a 4-4-2 system.

Atletico Madrid had more of the ball and made some dangerous plays, especially on their left side with Lino. Bilbao tried to stay solid defensively and did a decent job preventing clear goal-scoring chances. Simeone then made some position-based substitutions. Bilbao looked for counterattacks, mainly targeting Madrid's strong left side as Lino often moved forward, leaving space behind him. But they struggled to take advantage of these opportunities.

Both teams seemed to be feeling the effects of a demanding season, which affected their usual level of play. Despite the fatigue, Bilbao emerged victorious with a hard-fought 1-0 win. Excitement builds as we look forward to the rematch at the iconic San Mamés Stadium.

👉Weekend-Tipps

• 🚨2024/25 UEFA Nations League: Check out the Nations League group draw here.

• ⚽Top Matches this Weekend:  

  • Tottenham vs Brighton

  • Real Madrid vs Girona

  • Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern München

  • Milan vs Napoli

• Roberto De Zerbi Breaks Down His Build-Up Play Strategies: Watch the Video Here

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