Real Madrid Must Learn Lessons from Barcelona's Win over Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has a habit for being short and blunt with his words in defeat. On Sunday evening at the Camp Nou, "Cholo" was in characteristic form after his side had been handed a 3-1 loss by Barcelona.
"Our first half was bad. Barcelona were better," was the Argentinian's succinct summation, per Inside Spanish Football.
Though correct, Simeone's assessment was also overly simplistic. Barcelona were indeed better, but it wasn't just a case of the Blaugrana outplaying the visitors—they out-thought them, too. The dynamics of how shouldn't be glossed over.
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And for Real Madrid, the how is massively important. Carlo Ancelotti's men must take note. Because for Los Blancos, their clashes with Atletico Madrid in isolation might end up, rather oddly, defining their season.
A quick look ahead sees Real Madrid face their crosstown rivals in the second leg of the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday. Less than a month later, La Liga's leaders will make the short journey to the Vicente Calderon to do battle in the league.
It might not end there, either. Both clubs are in still involved in the Champions League, both clubs have been drawn favourably in the round of 16 (Real Madrid face Schalke, Atletico Madrid face Bayer Leverkusen) and both clubs should progress to the last eight. Another Madrid derby in the continental competition is entirely possible.
As explained last week, Real's record against their neighbours this season isn't encouraging: Three losses and one draw in four meetings. But more discouraging than the results has been the nature of Los Blancos' performances.
Everything we've come to associate with Ancelotti's men—power, speed, finesse, breathtaking ball movement, swift attacks and avalanches of goals—has been missing when they've faced Atleti. Simeone's team clatter into them. Harass them. Get under their skin. Force mistakes. Make it an arm wrestle.
Atletico simply drain the vitality out of Real Madrid. They suck the life out of them.
If the European champions don't find a way to break the trend, they could have their season derailed by one opponent.
That may sound mad, but it's possible.
Should Real Madrid fail to overturn the two-goal deficit to Los Colchoneros in the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie on Thursday, it will mark the second time this season Atletico have halted Real's quest for a trophy after stealing the Spanish Super Cup from their esteemed rivals last August.
If the clubs were to meet in the Champions League—not a guarantee, but a very real possibility—and the men in white again fail to conjure a method to edge past Atletico, that would bring the count to three.
And if Real Madrid drop three points at the Vicente Calderon in their meeting in La Liga in February, it could be a huge blow to Los Blancos' title bid in the Primera Division. Not only would Atletico have done the league double over Real (costly in any possible head-to-head scenarios on the table), they will also—assuming Real Madrid don't slip up against Getafe, Cordoba, Real Sociedad and Sevilla before then—have handed Ancelotti's men their fourth loss of the season.
Why is that number hugely significant? Because no side has won the Spanish crown in the last five seasons with more than four losses over the course of a campaign. As such, another derby defeat could leave the men from the Bernabeu with zero margin for error over the season's closing months.
In short, Real Madrid need to flip the script against Atletico. Fast. For it's possible that Atletico, and Atletico only, could, by season's end, have been responsible for halting Real's charge in four competitions if the current trend between the teams was to continue.
It's up to Ancelotti's team to change that. Interestingly, it's their fiercest rivals, Barcelona, who might have just given them some insight into how to do so.
Indeed, the Catalans deviated from the style that has seen them struggle to break down Atleti in recent meetings and exposed some weaknesses in Simeone's machine on Sunday that Real Madrid should take note of.
Most telling was Barcelona's obvious intent to maximise width and deny the visitors a chance to congest the game in the middle—something Atletico have been able to do in countless clashes with both Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last two seasons.
With Lionel Messi and Neymar both starting far wider than usual on either flank and Luis Suarez darting between them incessantly in the middle, the Blaugrana attack had the robust Atleti defence as stretched as it's ever been under Simeone.
Amplifying the effect was the pace at which Barcelona operated. When they were dangerous and effective, they were fast. Uncharacteristically fast. Patient and precise passing sequences weren't what won the home side the game; running at Atletico with speed and aggression was what did.
If you watch the game again (or watch the highlights here), you'll notice how the hosts, at times, were prepared to sit back a little and invite Atletico to push up. But when possession was won, the ball was sent to the flanks and urgently raced up the field regardless of what numbers were in support.
Time and time again, Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez, Juanfran and Jesus Gamez were seen scrambling back as Messi, Neymar and Suarez stormed at them. It was hugely significant. Compelling to watch. Rarely, if ever, do you witness Atletico's back four under such pressure and looking so utterly disorganised.
Barcelona, quite clearly, had made the decision that they wouldn't allow Atletico to control the tempo and turn the contest into a grind. Their intent was obvious, their method distinguishable.
If there had been a game-day mantra written inside the dressing room, it might have read: "Play wide. Play aggressive. Play fast."
The victory, achieved in emphatic fashion, meant many things for many people.
For Luis Enrique, it alleviated some of the intense pressure that had engulfed him after the loss to Real Sociedad. For Messi, it quelled the talk of his dissatisfaction at the club. For Suarez, it was the best indication yet that he can thrive in a superstar front three not built solely around him. And for Barcelona as a whole, it halted their spiral into a crisis.
But Sunday's game also meant something to others who weren't even there. Most notably the European champions, watching from afar in the Spanish capital.
All season, Real Madrid have banged their head against a wall when faced with Atletico. Every time they've come up short. Left frustrated and without reward.
A solution, though desperately needed ahead of future encounters, hasn't appeared obvious.
Barcelona, with a mightily impressive triumph over Atletico on Sunday, might have just given Real Madrid a point in the right direction.
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