Team Focus: Passing Atletico Show Another String to Their Bow in Derby Win

The 4-0 scoreline was probably not even the most startling thing about Atletico Madrid’s embarrassment of their bigger, richer neighbours in Saturday’s ‘derbi’ meeting at the Estadio Vicente Calderon. Even more surprising was the realisation that, even on the biggest occasions, the Spanish capital's traditionally second side really can play.

A common refrain after Atletico’s big-game successes through recent seasons has been that Diego Simeone’s team are over-aggressive, even “violent”, and also too dependent on set-pieces to score goals. The underlying message was that Los Colchoneros might be able to get results, but they should not really be seen as one of European football’s elite sides.

But Saturday’s display was something different. Each of Atletico’s goals was excellently crafted and finished, after patient passing moves had ripped apart Madrid’s dodgy defensive shape. Colchoneros attackers Arda Turan and Antoine Griezmann led their markers a merry dance, with the Calderon crowd enjoying strings of ‘Oles’ at different points through the second half as the home players stroked the ball around confidently in midfield. Madrid’s superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale all but gave up in a sulk.

There was a lot of talk afterwards about how Madrid had only managed one shot on target all game – from late substitute Asier Illarramendi, with the game long decided. The total shot count finished 17-4 in Atletico’s favour. The home side were also up 23-14 in aerials won and 29-19 in tackles.

It was more of a surprise for Madrid to actually commit more fouls [17-16] and the biggest shock was Atletico managing to secure 48.1% possession, when playing against Carlo Ancelotti’s usually ball-hogging Madrid.

In no recent derbi have Atletico come close to having such a share of the ball. Los Colchoneros won three and drew two of their previous five meetings with Madrid this season, but doing so living off scraps of possession - 40% [Calderon Supercopa], 33% [Bernabeu Supercopa], 38.9% [Bernabeu La Liga], 32.1% [Calderon Copa del Rey] and 38.1% [Bernabeu Copa del Rey].

Saturday’s almost equal share of possession did not fit at all with the idea of Simeone’s side as ‘bus-parkers’ who defend for long periods and then look to score on the break or via a set-piece. Even Los Colchoneros’ own fans were incredulous as their team actually outplayed Madrid for long periods. This was even more impressive given their best passer Koke limped off with a hamstring injury after just 10 minutes.

One of the few people who was not surprised with how things played out at the Calderon was Simeone himself, who told his post-game press conference that he had deliberately picked his best ball-playing team for the game. “We looked for a team which would combine more, to move the ball quickly,” said the former Atletico midfielder. “Today I understood we needed to play, to pass the ball. And it came out pretty well for us.”

The individual players statistics ram home just how well it went for Atletico. Their top three passers were all midfielders - captain Gabi with 61, Arda with 59 and Tiago with 52. Arda – making his first start against Madrid this season - topped his side’s pass success with 88.1%, followed by Gabi [85.3%] and Griezmann [79.2%].

The only Madrid midfielder to really put up a fight in this respect was Toni Kroos – who had the most passes for his team [61] and the best accuracy of any player on the field [91.8%]. The visitors’ next highest passers were defenders – Dani Carvajal [59], Raphael Varane [55] and Nacho Fernandez and Fabio Coentrao [both 44].

Atletico were happy enough for Madrid's defenders to pass back and forth to the each other, but the home side totally dominated the central battle for the ball. Kroos’ midfield colleagues Sami Khedira and Isco were both withdrawn early. The German managed just 16 passes before he came off injured at half-time. The young Spain international struggled in the midfield jungle, and averaged just 81.6% pass accuracy [down from his season average of 88.4%].

There was a lot of focus in the local media afterwards about how little bearing Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo had had on the game, and plenty of questions surrounding Ancelotti’s tactics. The BBC’s lack of impact was especially shown up by Mandzukic’s contribution. The Croat provided a goal and assist, as well as 50 touches of the ball and 6 aerial challenges won, in a classic all-round centre-forward's performance which deservedly won him the man of the match award [9.73 overall rating].

The manner of the victory was even noticed by the Madrid-supporting press, with lifelong Blancos fan and AS editor Alfredo Relaño recognising the “attractiveness” of Atletico's display. “Of all the greatest moments of the ‘Cholo era’, this will stand out among the very best,” Relaño wrote in Sunday morning's editorial. “All of the team’s best characteristics – above all their concentration and intensity – came together to produce good football. Technical, intelligent and attractive football. We’d seen Atletico play increasingly like this for a while, but yesterday was something else.”

Relaño was onto something in that Simeone has been trying to evolve his team’s style this season. Last year’s Primera Division title was won while averaging just 48.9% possession, something likely unprecedented across Europe’s top leagues in recent times, and with a primary tactic of hitting opponents with Diego Costa on the break.

With Costa gone, Mandzukic and Griezmann still settling in, and Arda injured, Atletico started the current season super-reliant on set-pieces for goals. But more recently the team has gelled together – and their possession metric is now inching up over 50%.

Saturday’s fourth goal actually marked a turning point – with Atletico now having scored 21 goals in open play in La Liga during 2014/15, versus 20 from set-pieces. That latter total was phenomenal, and Atletico are not about to drop their intensity or physicality, but they clearly do have more strings to their bow.

And no matter what happens, whichever approach Atletico take into the next Madrid ‘derbi’, their players and fans will always have Saturday’s 4-0 victory. Winning so emphatically, while playing so well, will have been extra sweet for Simeone and his side.

What did you make of Atletico’s passing display this weekend? Let us know in the comments below