#360view: Real Madrid exposed by resurgent Atletico

Andy West 05:18 09/02/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Ecstatic: Atletico Madrid have well and truly overcome their Madrid Derby hoodoo after spectacularly defeating cross-city rivals Real Madrid.

    Not so long ago, Atletico Madrid headed into every local derby with Real burdened by the knowledge that they had not beaten their noisy neighbours since 1999. Finally, after 14 years, that statistic was banished when Diego Simeone’s men lifted the 2012/13 Copa del Rey with a thrilling victory over their nemesis in the final at the Bernabeu.

    – Atletico thrash woeful Real 4-0 in Madrid derby
    – La Liga: Barcelona put five past Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla stumble

    They haven’t looked back since, and now the boot is firmly on the other foot with Real having to stretch their memories to recall their most recent triumph against Atletico.

    Following Saturday’s 4-0 humiliation at the Vicente Calderon, Real have now failed to beat Atletico over 90 minutes in any of their last eight encounters, including a league double, a Copa del Rey exit and a Super Cup defeat this season.

    Disappointed: Real Madrid hit-man Cristiano Ronaldo visibly dejected as Atletico Madrid cruised to an easy victory in the Madrid Derby.

    Those three words ‘over ninety minutes’ are highly significant, of course, because the only triumph for Los Blancos was a major one as they lifted the Champions League trophy following a dramatic 4-1 victory after extra time in Lisbon last May.

    But that solitary success doesn’t mask the fact that Atletico have seriously got their number at the moment – especially when you consider that they only managed to take that game to an additional period thanks to Sergio Ramos’ header from a corner deep inside stoppage time.

    The Vicente Calderon has been a particularly unhappy hunting ground for Real, who have failed to score a single goal in their three trips to Atletico’s home this season, losing 1-0 in the Super Cup, 2-0 in the Copa and now 4-0 in La Liga.

    On Saturday they rarely came close to even shooting, never mind scoring, and Carlo Ancelotti must be seriously concerned about his team’s inability to trouble Atletico’s defence, particularly so given the possibility of meeting them again in the latter stages of the Champions League.

    The main reason for Atletico’s derby successes has been Diego Simeone’s ability to orchestrate the kind of contests which suits his team’s strengths whilst simultaneously negating Real’s. That means massing the centre of the pitch with hard-working players, including strikers who are prepared to drop back into midfield, attacking Real down wide areas to send a series of dangerous crosses into the middle and – most importantly of all – denying Real any space to launch their lightning counterattacks.

    All four of Atletico’s goals on Saturday came from attacks down the wings, where Real are always vulnerable due to Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s unwillingness to track back and support their full-backs.

    The opening two goals were classic cases. Firstly Juanfran escaped down the right to deliver a centre which was worked back for Tiago to fire home, and then Guilherme Siqueira surged forward to cross for Saul’s acrobatic volley.

    More than technical or tactical matters, though, Ancelotti’s team must address their mental approach to their meetings with Atletico, who will simply brush aside any opposition who don’t match their intensity.

    However well Atletico played, the fact that Bale, Ronaldo and Co can go through 90 minutes without registering a single shot on target is little short of a disgrace and Real simply have to work much, much harder if they want to enjoy better fortunes against Simeone’s men next time around.

    Recommended