Atlético Madrid bested each of Seville’s representatives in LaLiga within the span of every week. After defeating Betis 2-0 at La Cartuja on Monday, Atlético shook off a gradual begin at dwelling on Saturday to expire 3-0 winners over Sevilla.
It took over an hour, however Julián Alvarez opened the scoring with a deadly-accurate penalty earlier than Giuliano Simeone picked out a late-arriving for the second purpose. Antoine Griezmann polished off the outcome with a Ninetieth-minute strike, his two hundredth purpose in LaLiga; he’s considered one of solely 11 gamers within the 96-year historical past of the Spanish league to attain a minimum of 200 instances.
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Let’s get into some takeaways that we will glean from this outcome.
Adjustments — by each managers — determined the sport
The primary half on Saturday was cagey, if not downright sleepy. With Pablo Barrios injured, Atlético struggled to make inroads in opposition to Sevilla’s cussed mid-block. Álex Baena (extra on him in a second) picked up the slack as Koke’s associate in midfield, however Atleti had two photographs on course and produced a pedestrian 0.81 anticipated objectives within the first 45 minutes. Each managers, , knew one thing needed to change.
Matías Almeyda moved first. The Sevilla boss shuffled his protection on the intermission, as captain Nemanja Gudelj changed Batista Mendy and the barely-fit César Azpilicueta got here off for Tanguy Nianzou. Diego Simeone didn’t transfer till the primary purpose arrived — a sequence that began from chaos at an Atlético nook.
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As Sevilla tried frantically to clear the ball, Nianzou fouled Josema Giménez within the field and conceded a penalty; I assumed Nianzou was a bit lucky to not see a crimson card for violent conduct, however I’m certain Simeone and firm gladly took the following Alvarez penalty as an alternative.
On 68 minutes, El Cholo turned to his bench. Thiago Almada changed Alexander Sørloth, whereas Conor Gallagher got here on for Nico Gonzalez (who missed a pair possibilities however left every part he had on the pitch, as has change into customized). Whereas Gallagher and his recent legs chased after the ball repeatedly, Almada appeared to drift all throughout the pitch and ended up with two purpose contributions. Undetected by Sevilla’s tiring defenders, Almada waltzed into the field to faucet in Giuliano’s cross, and a fast cross to Griezmann noticed the Frenchman line up his second purpose of the season — the 201st of his Atleti profession.
The shortage of depth at Atlético was a serious challenge within the opening weeks; now, Simeone has some choices from which to decide on. Almada continues to make an affect instead, whereas Griezmann has regarded sharp after a foul begin to the season. In protection, Matteo Ruggeri did nicely sufficient in his first begin for six weeks to maintain Dávid Hancko in central protection and afford Robin Le Normand some relaxation. Johnny Cardoso’s imminent return will enable Simeone to spell Koke, and the coach is even discovering a workable context for the much-maligned Nahuel Molina: as a right-winger, with Marcos Llorente sliding into central protection behind him.
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Did Baena as a CM work?
As talked about, Simeone selected Baena to “substitute” Barrios in midfield, permitting Sørloth a chance to begin. The previous Villarreal stars noticed their connection considerably re-established within the first half, when a Baena lengthy ball discovered Sørloth for Atlético’s first shot on purpose. It was considered one of 4 possibilities that Baena created within the first half, as he confirmed off a lot of the beautiful passing vary that satisfied Atleti to buy him for €42 million.
In all, Baena created 5 possibilities from simply 54 touches. However past this elite means he possesses, I believe Simeone chosen him in Barrios’ stead for his tactical intelligence — particularly, his expertise for recovering the soccer.
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It is for that reason too that Baena has come to be thought to be his idol Griezmann’s inheritor obvious. We all know that Griezmann is considered one of his era’s most proficient gamers, able to creating and scoring spectacular objectives (to the tune of 200 in LaLiga). However Griezmann’s understanding of what his staff wants, and when, is rivaled by few gamers of his period.
Baena’s studying of the sport mirrors Griezmann’s, when it comes to his anticipation and studying of the sport. Along with creating an opportunity each 11 touches in opposition to Sevilla, Baena made three recoveries, received three floor duels, made two interceptions, and drew two fouls.
Briefly: sure, the Baena guess in midfield paid off. He can play that place identical to Griezmann has earlier than for Atlético, and most prominently for France in the course of the 2022 World Cup. However I believe that Baena’s greatest function is as that fulcrum behind Alvarez — and if his profession path at Atlético does certainly mirror Griezmann’s, then he’s ticketed for nice issues at this membership.
Llorente, Giménez maintain chugging alongside
Llorente and the Atlético protection get their very own part right here. The Colchoneros have stored three clear sheets in succession in LaLiga, and Simeone’s protection proper now seems as competent because it has this calendar 12 months
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For the thirty second match in succession, Llorente performed the whole 90 minutes. In considered one of his quieter outings, Llorente had 58 touches and three passes into the ultimate third, as he managed to gallop away into the Sevilla penalty space simply as soon as within the second half. However the Spain worldwide’s self-discipline and consistency from right-back/proper center-back proceed to make him an absolute benchmark on this Atleti facet.
One other referential participant is one Josema Giménez, whose return to the facet final month has coincided with this defensive revival. In 332 minutes between LaLiga and the Champions League, Atlético have shipped one purpose with Giménez on the pitch. Jan Oblak is visibly extra assured together with his fellow captain organizing the protection forward of him, whereas each Le Normand and Hancko (on Saturday) have turned in good performances whereas partnering the Uruguayan.
The timing couldn’t be higher. Atleti face Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in a must-win Champions League recreation on Tuesday night time; the Rojiblancos sit nineteenth within the league part desk with a minus-one purpose distinction. Rising that quantity shall be crucial. Solely three groups — Eintracht Frankfurt amongst them — have shipped extra objectives by way of the opening three rounds than Union have.