Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid: Tactical Review of Champions League Game

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid played out a hard-fought 0-0 draw at the Vicente Calderon, leaving their two-legged UEFA Champions League quarter-final finely poised ahead of next week. Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann came closest to netting, but it was, in fact, a fascinating tactical duel that saw neither side gain the upper hand.

Formations and XIs

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Atletico Madrid played their typical 4-4-1-1/4-4-2 with Mario Mandzukic playing just ahead of Griezmann. Arda Turan started right and Koke left in the midfield four, and Diego Godin marshalled the back line.

Real Madrid played a 4-3-3 with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and James Rodriguez all in central midfield, while the "BBC" combo of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo played as a fluid front three.

1. Early Zip

Carlo Ancelotti has had plenty of problems trying to break down Atletico Madrid this season, standing winless against them since the final of the UEFA Champions League last season.

The issue that plagues his side so frequently when playing their neighbours is a slow, monotonous use of the ball—particularly post-Angel Di Maria—and all too often Los Blancos start in first gear and never truly clamber out of it.

Credit: beINSport.

But here, from the first minute, they were rampant, and the speed with which they moved the ball was absolutely key. Allowing Atletico to drop into a low-block and defend the edge of the box in two banks of four is the worst thing you can do, so to see Real's midfield trio fizzing the ball about and creating chances early was heartening.

Modric and Co. were able to work quick combinations on both flanks, with Dani Carvajal and Marcelo both flying forward to create overloads and fashion crossing chances. It's difficult to remember a game in which Atletico allowed, and faced, so many dangerous-looking balls into their own area.

The ease at which Real started the game completely unsettled the home side, and Godin made an uncharacteristic error to allow Bale in one-on-one. Jan Oblak made a good save and came to the rescue, and he would do so again three or four times before half-time.

2. Hold-up Issues

Atletico were stunned by Real's lightning-fast start and really struggled to produce anything of note in the first half. The hold-up play was poor from Mandzukic and Griezmann, with the decision-making in the final third very questionable throughout.

The biggest issue seemed to be the players' inability to slow down and think for a second, holding onto it in Real's half and allowing their own defence to gain some ground. Too often Griezmann and Koke went for the perfect counter-attacking goal, making less than three passes before trying a killer ball or shot.

Credit: beINSport.

In the second half they calmed right down, with Griezmann in particular willing to collect, dribble horizontally and keep possession for four or five seconds. That did his defenders a world of good, allowing them to crawl back up the pitch and take a breather.

That levelled the possession battle a little and paved the way for late Atletico pressure. Simeone got into his front men at half-time, clearly, and he outlined what damage they were doing to the game.

3. Make It A Scrap

The best thing Diego Simeone's men did in the second period was make it a proper derby scrap; they were being outplayed and they knew it, so they did to Real Madrid what Real Madrid have done many times to Barcelona: played the part of spoiler.

Mandzukic and Sergio Ramos had a fantastic, old-fashioned battle, with the Croatian having to leave the pitch at least three times to get wiped clear of blood. Dani Carvajal had a go at him too, punching him when the officials weren't looking, and Marcelo was yellow-carded for a high elbow in a challenge.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

The point to this was simple: it refocused Los Blancos' energies and took their focus away from the game they were playing. Had the first 30 minutes been extrapolated across the entire 90, they'd likely have won this fixture, but Atleti disrupted and broke up the flow.

Ramos and Co. were too busy worrying about whether or not an elbow was coming to regain their composure, and it was the home side who pressed for a goal in the final five minutes.

Quickfire Conclusions

• Under 1.5 goals was a strong bet ahead of kick-off because when these two lock horns it's always tight. The centre-backs—in particular Raphael Varane—stole the limelight on the night.
• Marcelo and Mario Suarez, two important players, will miss the second leg due to suspension. Atleti have Tiago to step in, but Real? Fabio Coentrao has been dealing with injuries of late and could be in trouble.
• Many of Real's moves broke down with Karim Benzema, whose heavy touch in the box cost his side on multiple occasions. He and Bale will likely bear the brunt of this one.
• Fernando Torres was lively after coming on, and Simeone has reasonable depth up front ahead of the second leg in he and Raul Garcia. 

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