Why Heavy Celta Vigo Win Should Act as a Benchmark for Atletico Madrid's Season

There are no such things as do-overs at the very top level of professional sports, but there remains the opportunity to learn and grow from past mistakes.

And whilst Diego Simeone might not ever admit that the way he set up Atletico Madrid in their damp, drab draws in their opening two matches of the LaLiga season against Alaves and Leganes was a mistake—there would have been a method in the way that he approached the games—he had to have at least learned from them. So it proved at Celta Vigo on Saturday.

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It took a while, and Simeone and Atletico were indebted to a moment of fortune in the first half when Celta’s Belgian forward Theo Bongonda could only fire narrowly wide when he raced clear, but the 4-0 win will have lifted a lingering sense of disappointment that was threatening to take over the club.

Simeone unequivocally got it right in Galicia.

Abandoning the approach that saw four midfielders strung across the centre of the pitch, almost bumping in to each other, that we saw in the first two games, the Atletico boss gave Gabi, Koke and Saul Niguez room to breathe at the Balaidos, and it eventually paid dividends.

They had to be patient, with Koke’s opening goal not coming until early in the second half and then Antoine Griezmann, twice, and Angel Correa killing off their hosts, but this was more like it from Atleti and their happy manager, who just couldn’t resist one final reaction to his side’s disappointing season opening.

Simeone told the club’s website:

"

The first half was very matched. We had a first very good 25 minutes, although they matched the game with some clear situations at the end of the first half.

The second half, from Koke’s goal, the team was strong and you could see that they were going to be dangerous in any offensive situation. It is clear that the goal gives you freedom and it allows you to better manage the games.

I am happy because we continue maintaining the structure of always. I believe that beyond the situations that we had against Álava and Leganés, the team is the same structurally.

"

Is it, though? Or is the manager mischievously swiping at his critics?

With the removal of the extra midfielder—Tiago in the first game and Augusto Fernandez in the second—then Simeone tapped into football’s most basic resource in Vigo. He gave his team more goals.

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Fernando Torres might have been given the start as a result of having a full two weeks training with his manager and no international break, but the key thing was that there were two players starting around him who were doing everything that they could to get into the box.

Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Griezmann gave Atletico greater forward momentum and a greater threat around the penalty area, which was something that the rest of the team took their cue from, with Koke and substitute Correa both netting.

Sometimes the best response to trouble is to simply declutter your mind, and in Simeone’s case that also seems to extend to his midfield.

There were teething problems, of course, and that entire first half wasn’t a great watch for the nervy Atleti supporters, but after they rode that storm, then you could see the relief washing through the team once they took the lead early in the second period.

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There really was only one winner from there, and suddenly this below-par start to the season looks a little easier to stomach after Barcelona shockingly lost 2-1 at home to Alaves having left Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta on the bench.

Perhaps upon seeing that result a wry smile spread over Simeone’s face, coupled with a knowing nod and a polite reminder to anyone within earshot that Atletico took a point at home to Alaves, and now Barca have taken none.

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Atletico now sit just a point behind Luis Enrique’s LaLiga champions, who host Simeone’s team at the Camp Nou in what already looks to be a fascinating clash on September 21.

Titles aren’t given out this early, but it is refreshing to see Atletico cut loose in this manner and to win a game in a fashion that we are more used to seeing from their two main rivals.

It is refreshing, too, to see Griezmann back in this type of the form. And the two things are most certainly not a coincidence.

We spoke before the game about how Atletico needed the Frenchman to rediscover the form he showed both last season and in the European Championship in his homeland, where he was both the top goalscorer and best player, and he certainly delivered here.

Speaking to the official Atletico website after the game, Griezmann said:

"

In the first half, they pressured very well and had chances to score, but we did a great job in the second, we were a strong team, that wanted to win and score goals, and we are very happy.

The key was to defend well and be strong in the rear.

On a personal level I am also very happy. I am still picking up the pace of the game, but I try to give my all. I am very happy for the goals and for the assists.

"

And who wouldn’t be? Atletico might have gotten off to a sluggish start in LaLiga, but this victory hopefully heralds the beginning of an approach that sees getting players into the box as one of the key elements of Simeone’s team, and just in time for the Champions League, too.

Hopefully the Argentinian opts for the same approach when he takes his side to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night, when the improvement of Griezmann is again going to be crucial in a fairly tricky group, which also houses Bayern Munich.

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They can wait, though, as right now there is a victory to be gloried in.

Atletico have made up ground that had been previously lost, even if Real Madrid—who didn’t quite take the risks that Barca did—did win again, 5-2 at home to Osasuna, to preserve their 100 per cent record. They’d have quite enjoyed the Barca result, too.

Who knows, maybe the fact that both sides won so comfortably earlier in the day heaped a huge amount of pressure on Luis Enrique’s men, and as a consequence they weren’t able to produce their best football in losing at home to a side that Simeone can attest to being a hugely tricky opponent to overcome.

He was scowling that night, but he can smile now.

The Atletico boss might just have discovered the way forward for his team on Saturday, and suddenly this is a club looking forwards and not over their shoulders.