Atletico Madrid and Arsenal are all square after the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash, drawing 1-1 at the Metropolitano.
In the first half, Arsenal went 1-0 up through Viktor Gyokeres from the spot, having had more control in the half (52% possession), taking more shots (six) and generating 1.23 Expected Goals to Atletico’s 0.21 xG.
However, Atletico Madrid took over in the second half, holding 55% of the ball, taking 13 shots, creating three big chances and generating 2.00 xG to Arsenal’s 0.27.
In this article, we’ll cover
Atletico’s passive approach
Atletico Madrid started the game with a more passive approach despite being the home side, dropping into a back five off the ball and looking to limit Arsenal’s space to operate.
Giuliano Simeone dropped into the last line to form a temporary back five off the ball, allowing Marcos Llorente to shift inside, becoming the right-sided centre-back and allowing Atletico Madrid to match up five against five with their back line against Arsenal’s front five on the ball.
Both of Arsenal’s full-backs would move high into the halfspaces, which also dragged Ademola Lookman deeper and narrow to track Ben White, isolating Noni Madueke out wide against Matteo Ruggeri 1v1.
Arsenal were able to easily build out against this passive 5-3-2 press of Atletico Madrid, allowing them to gain control of the game.
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Declan Rice’s important role
Declan Rice was key to Arsenal gaining control in the game, as his role in possession was to drop into the first line along with William Saliba and Gabriel, giving Arsenal the 3v2 overload against Atletico’s front two.
While this was a clear advantage in the early stages for Arsenal, allowing them to have settled periods of possession on the ball, it was the out of possession advantage it gave them that made the tactical choice stand out.
Lookman is Atletico Madrid’s biggest transition weapon, looking to run beyond when the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez can make it stick on the break, drawing bodies towards them before finding the runner in behind.
The Nigerian winger also has the pace and ability to carry it himself in transition, which could have caused Arsenal some problems, as White was advanced in the right pocket in order to pin Atletico back and give Madueke 1v1 opportunities out wide.
Therefore, the decision to have Rice move over to the right channel (almost as a right-sided centre-back in settled possession further forwards) was clever, ready to protect against Lookman in transition and shut down attacks before they could fully start.
Rice made four ball recoveries, winning two of his three ground duels and making one tackle, with the majority of his defensive actions coming in that right channel.
Atletico’s man to man shift
In the second half, Atletico came out with a change in their approach, now trailing by a goal in their home leg, Diego Simeone shifted from his more passive 5-3-2 shape into a man to man approach across the pitch.
This entailed both of the forwards picking up a centre-back each, Johnny Cardoso now jumping onto Rice in the last line to make it a 3v3 against their first line in the build, with Koke tracking Martin Zubimendi in midfield and David Hancko jumping out onto Martin Odegaard.
Simeone was subbed off at half-time, with Llorente shifting forwards into the right midfield position, Pubil shifting over to right-back (now tracking Gabriel Martinelli man for man) and Robin Le Normand going into centre-back, tracking Gyokeres and marking him tightly.
This shift in approach allowed Atletico to wrestle control of the game in the second half from Arsenal, winning the ball back, having more periods of settled possession and allowing the likes of Griezmann to get on the ball more in little pockets of space.
Simeone will feel hard done by that his side couldn’t find a winner in the second half to take back to the Emirates, but their second half approach could inspire the Spanish side heading into the second leg next week, which will make it even more interesting to see which approach both sides opt for in the match as they attempt to reach the Champions League final.