Jonathan Wilson
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Atl?tico Madrid may have seemed injury-cursed but they have the approach and tactical discipline to worry their city rivals
The injuries obscure all else. Atlético Madrid go into the Champions League final in Lisbon having overcome a series of seemingly insuperable obstacles to win the league and yet, even for them, to stop Real Madrid winning la décima possibly without two of their best and most consistent players this season might be a miracle too far. But Real Madrid have a problem as well, one rooted not in personnel but in approach.
In the semi-final victory over Bayern Munich, Real were happy to cede possession, sit deep and spring forward on the counterattack. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, both skilful, powerful and ferociously quick, are ideally suited to that sort of game (as is Angel di María for all his recent reinvention as a carillero, shuttling up and down from a more central position and he replaced Bale on the flank in the first leg). Once Bayern had gone behind they were caught in a classic bind: they needed to attack, but every time they did so they looked like conceding, exposing space behind their midfield for the pace of Ronaldo and Bale to exploit. Karim Benzemas role in that, moving intelligently across the front line to create the angle for the break, should not be overlooked.
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The injuries obscure all else. Atlético Madrid go into the Champions League final in Lisbon having overcome a series of seemingly insuperable obstacles to win the league and yet, even for them, to stop Real Madrid winning la décima possibly without two of their best and most consistent players this season might be a miracle too far. But Real Madrid have a problem as well, one rooted not in personnel but in approach.
In the semi-final victory over Bayern Munich, Real were happy to cede possession, sit deep and spring forward on the counterattack. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, both skilful, powerful and ferociously quick, are ideally suited to that sort of game (as is Angel di María for all his recent reinvention as a carillero, shuttling up and down from a more central position and he replaced Bale on the flank in the first leg). Once Bayern had gone behind they were caught in a classic bind: they needed to attack, but every time they did so they looked like conceding, exposing space behind their midfield for the pace of Ronaldo and Bale to exploit. Karim Benzemas role in that, moving intelligently across the front line to create the angle for the break, should not be overlooked.
Continue reading...
More...