Elche vs. Atletico Madrid: Winners and Losers from La Liga Game
Goals from Jose Gimenez and Mario Mandzukic earned Atletico Madrid a comfortable 2-0 victory over Elche at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Saturday, as the defending Spanish champions cruised temporarily into second spot on the Liga table.
After resting his leading players for the midweek Copa del Rey clash, manager Diego Simeone recalled his fresh first-team stars with great effect against Fran Escriba's struggling side, overcoming the hosts with clinical ease on a sunny afternoon in Alicante.
It was the impressive Gimenez who opened the scoring for the visitors, finishing a fine move from Koke and Arda Turan to blast a shot into the top-left corner in the 16th minute.
After the break, Mandzukic's calm finish after being played in behind the Elche defence by Gabi's neat chip doubled Atletico's advantage and allowed the men from the capital to coast to the finish line.
Across the following slides, we examine the winners and losers from Saturday's clash.
Winner: Jose Gimenez
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In the absence of first-choice centre-back Miranda, 19-year-old Jose Gimenez is being given an extended run in the side by Diego Simeone, and the teenager continues to impress for Atletico.
On Saturday, the Uruguayan scored his first goal for the club when he impressively hammered home a shot from inside the box after Koke and Arda Turan had worked their way through the Elche defence.
Struck with power and precision after a delightful first touch, it was the sort of finish one would typically expect from an elite centre-forward rather than a developing central defender.
Also completing his defensive duties with consummate ease, it was a fine overall display for Gimenez.
Loser: Antoine Griezmann
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One certainly can't criticise the performance of Antoine Griezmann after he was brought on as a second-half substitute against Elche on Saturday.
Lively in the final third and dangerous on the break (once Elche started to chase the game), the Frenchman was the bundle of energy you'd expect to him to be after sitting out the first 74 minutes.
But therein lies the problem for Griezmann: He's still not the dominant figure at Atletico many had anticipated he'd be since his arrival from Real Sociedad in the summer transfer window.
Indeed, Saturday's substitute appearance was his 10th of such kind for the season, which was particularly surprising after not starting in the midweek Copa del Rey clash with L'Hospitalet or the Champions League meeting with Olympiakos a week earlier.
In all, the Frenchman has only started in two of Atletico's last six matches and appears to be enduring a humbling learning curve at the hands of Diego Simeone, who seems prepared to make the forward fight for his place in the team on a weekly basis.
Winner: Mario Mandzukic
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It wasn't just the fact Mario Mandzukic scored that was significant at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Saturday.
Instead, it was how he scored.
Prior to this clash with Elche, all 11 of the Croatian's goals had come from one-touch finishes—the bulk of them from headers close to goal—indicating that Atletico's new striker, while a fine finisher, has been heavily dependent on the creativity of others.
But Mandzukic broke that streak against Los Franjiverdes, when he seized on Gabi's fine chip over the hosts' defensive line, took a touch to steady himself and calmly beat Przemyslaw Tyton at his near post with a pinpoint strike.
It was a sign that the former Bayern striker might be able to shrug the one-dimensional tag he's earned at the Vicente Calderon, particularly the way he was able to get in behind the defence—something his limited mobility has often prevented him from doing.
Loser: Fran Escriba and Elche's Tactical Approach
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While there's no disgrace in succumbing to the defending Spanish champions for Elche, the way the team's tactical approach played into the hands of the visitors was inexcusable.
Frankly, they got it all wrong on Saturday.
Deployed in a very deep and compact 4-4-2, the home side were set up in a manner to combat last season's Atletico rather than this season's, as though they were still accounting for the presence of Diego Costa (whereas Atletico were once a counter-attacking threat, they're now scoring through precise build-ups and set pieces).
Indeed, Elche appeared intent on denying the visitors any space in behind, inviting Atleti onto them and allowing Diego Simeone's back four to press with an extremely high defensive line—exactly the way they want to play (and are forced to play) this season without Costa and a less mobile forward setup.
As such, Atletico were hardly challenged and were allowed to dictate the contest all too easily.
Winner: La Liga Title Race
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When Atletico Madrid slumped to a dispiriting 2-1 loss to Real Sociedad prior to the international break, there was a quietly growing sense that Diego Simeone's men simply didn't possess the ruthless edge to avoid the slip-ups that would derail the club's title defence.
But there was a clinical feeling to Saturday's victory over Elche; the team's win was achieved with ease as the visitors were barely forced out of second gear.
Such a performance was encouraging for the title race, indicating Atletico are capable of cruising past opponents with the minimal sort of fuss that had been questioned since the departures of Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtois, David Villa and Filipe Luis.
In short, it was thought that regular scraps away from home would take a toll on Atletico.
But now in second spot on the league table behind Real Madrid (Barcelona play on Sunday), Saturday's performance increased optimism in Atleti's ability to sustain a title challenge.
