Atletico Madrid Have Squad Depth to Retain La Liga Title Ahead of Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid's season keeps gradually growing from strength to strength, with Wednesday's Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid being the latest in a series of impressive results.

After a little bit of a slow start to the season, Atleti have gained ground in the league with their consistency, look strong favourites to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and have one foot in the latter stages of the domestic cup.

The derby win over Real showed us at least one important trait of Diego Simeone's side: There is a depth to the squad and a determination throughout each of the players to ensure every game yields the same outcome. Real Madrid's winning streak (which reached 22 games) is over and done with, and Atletico have shown they have everything they need to win La Liga for a second consecutive season.

Simeone's Selections

It's a known fact that Simeone lets those in possession of the shirt wear it out, rather than continually rotating large sections of his side. If you're in the team, play well and train hard, you stay there. That's his ideology—his way of working.

It means fewer minutes for certain players, but it also demands they give everything for the cause every time they step out onto the field. The midfield is hard-working but technical, creative and destructive all at once. The forwards have to link play, defend deep and attack with quality.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Simeone's selection policy is one of the reasons why Alessio Cerci, signed for big money in the summer, has departed after only a few months; the Italian didn't provide the work rate or quality needed and didn't see game time as a result.

Though numbers are important in terms of depth, more vital is that those who come in—as several did for the Copa win over Real—can perform in the same shape and at the same level as those they replace.

Fernando Torres' arrival adds emotion and competition to the attack, while the loan signing of Cani from Villarreal brings depth to the wide areas following Cerci's departure.

Depth

So much is demanded from Simeone's quartet in the centre.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

The typical combination would be the prodigiously talented Koke on the left, the creative and skilful Arda Turan on the right, with Tiago and Gabi balancing out the centre with a combination of deft touches, aggressive challenges and limitless energy.

Add in Raul Garcia in any position, Mario Suarez's abilities in the centre and perennial sub option Cristian Rodriguez, and there is plenty of chance for Simeone to make changes to keep the starters fit and fresh for the next challenge. Saul Niguez is a versatile performer who can operate anywhere across that line, in defence or up top, while the addition of Cani provides industry and dribbling quality out wide if Koke needs a break.

It's not just about running, though; that midfield line closes spaces out, hunts down the ball in a pack and plays quickly up the park. In games Atleti dominate, they transition from destroyers to creators en masse, with each player comfortable and capable of picking a pass or delivering those all-important set pieces, which provide so many of the team's goals.

Elsewhere, there are genuine battles for first-team berths in goal, at left-back and now in the centre of defence, with Jose Gimenez finally being given a run in the team, which he is taking in style. Miranda won't find it a straightforward route back into the team.

Paul White/Associated Press

Only at centre-forward do they potentially lack impact from the subs, with Torres and Raul Jimenez lacking goals. Even there, though, the emergence of Antoine Griezmann, now settled into the club and dominant as an all-round centre-forward, gives them huge starting quality.

Big Games

Atleti eased back into La Liga with a 3-1 win over Levante in their opening match of 2015, but from there, it's straight into the thick of things.

They played and beat Real Madrid on Wednesday, and next up is Barcelona—with whom they are level on points—in La Liga on Sunday. From there, it's back to Copa del Rey action for the second leg against Real Madrid, meaning the starting quality and depth of the squad will be really tested over the coming weeks.

The best compliment you can pay Atleti is to state that, with the current look of all three teams, you don't see them tasting defeat in either of those fixtures.

There's a long way to go in La Liga, and injuries, other competitions or the odd Simeone touchline ban could yet have telling impacts on where the title ends up this season. But the boss has a template in place and the players to execute his game plan, which could certainly see them lift yet more silverware come May.

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