5 Atletico Madrid Weaknesses Other Teams Can Expose This Season

Following their sparkling season in 2013-14, Atletico Madrid have again started strongly this term, capturing the Spanish Super Cup over neighbours Real Madrid before emerging triumphant from their first league derby of the season with Carlo Ancelotti's European champions last weekend.

Despite the departures of Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtois, Filipe Luis, David Villa and Adrian Lopez this summer, Diego Simeone's outfit has taken on a familiar look, even in the presence of an array of new signings. 

Indeed, the arrivals of Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic, Raul Jimenez, Alessio Cerci, Guilherme Siqueira, Miguel Angel Moya, Jan Oblak and Jesus Gamez have altered the names on the shirts, but that has hardly tampered with Atleti's robust collective personality. 

However, that doesn't mean there aren't weaknesses in Simeone's Spanish champions—there most definitely are.

Across the following slides, we examine five areas that opposing teams will look to take advantage of against Atletico this season.  

Guilherme Siqueira at Left-Back

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The departure of Filipe Luis to Chelsea was always going to be tough to cover for Atletico, and while Guilherme Siqueira is a useful addition from Granada, the Brazilian isn't the fine defender his predecessor was. 

More comfortable when in possession breaking forward, the 28-year-old can be exposed defensively, as was made evident by the clumsy penalty given away to Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu on Saturday. 

Tellingly, both Ronaldo and Gareth Bale looked to play down the right, abandoning Juanfran on the other side to attack Siqueira at left-back—a ploy Atletico seemingly saw coming, given how intensely Koke tracked back to provide double coverage alongside the full-back. 

Diego Simeone's men got away with it against a lacklustre home side on Saturday, but that won't always be the case. 

Lack of Possession

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Last season, Atletico Madrid ranked ninth in La Liga for average possession at 48.9 percent, per WhoScored.com. Across three games so far in 2014-15, that number has fallen to 40.4 percent—a figure below every team aside from Elche in the Spanish Primera Division. 

Of course, Atleti's game isn't based upon supreme control of the ball like that of Barcelona or Real Madrid. But if that possession figure doesn't increase, Diego Simeone's men will be placing a heavy burden on the team's defensive qualities, leaving themselves little margin for error each weekend. 

Particularly in midfield, opposing sides will look to tire Gabi and Tiago with a pass-and-move approach, hoping to find a way to attack the well-guarded back four. 

And while many teams will still fail with that mentality, there will be a significant physical toll placed on Atletico's soldiers as the season progresses, meaning opponents could take advantage of a side exhausted from its own methods in the final months of the campaign. 

Mario Mandzukic's Lack of Pace

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Mario Mandzukic has already proved himself to be a fine addition for Atletico Madrid this season, scoring three goals in his first six competitive appearances for the defending Spanish champions. 

However, the Croatian is not Diego Costa—the man who Mandzukic has been brought to the Vicente Calderon to replace. 

Costa was a one-man counter-attack for Diego Simeone, capable of dragging his team up the pitch on his own with his pace, tenacity and comfort in possession. Simply, it didn't matter how deep Atleti sat without the ball, Costa could ensure they broke forward briskly when it was won. 

Mandzukic, however, can't provide such qualities. He's a penalty-area target man who'll thrive on Atletico's set pieces, but his presence means opposing teams can push their defensive line very high, knowing the striker can't hurt them in behind. This may quell the threat Simeone's men offer on the break. 

Creative Reliance on Koke and Arda Turan

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While Atletico Madrid's midfield is admired for its work ethic, togetherness and enviable balance, the team doesn't possess the same array of attacking sources that many of Europe's other elite clubs do.

In Gabi, Tiago and Mario Suarez, Diego Simeone's side has three reliable central anchors, but also players who don't possess the cutting edge associated with other deep-lying midfielders such as Xabi Alonso, Bastian Schweinsteiger or even Cesc Fabregas in his new role at Chelsea. 

Thus, there's a heavy burden on Koke and Arda Turan to create chances for Atleti, narrowing the focus for opposing teams as they try to cut the supply line.

If the Spaniard and Turk are nullified, Atletico are forced to rely on their vaunted set pieces more than usual. 

Diego Simeone's Fire

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Perhaps more than any other club in Europe, Atletico Madrid are a complete reflection of their manager, Diego Simeone. 

Relentless and full of fire, Simeone's players embody his ferocity on a weekly basis, pouring their heart and soul into the cause as they continue to defy the financial superiority of their closest rivals. 

But that strength is also a source of weakness.

Playing in such a manner so consistently will eventually—though it's uncertain how long it may take—strip the vigour and spark from Simeone's men. It's only a matter of time before such attritional methods begin to take their toll. 

On the back of a summer that featured the World Cup, it's possible Atletico could feel the effects of that as the season draws to a close next May.