Thread by @BlancoReport, | Derbi Madrileño • Match Analysis | Atlético Madrid

| Derbi Madrileño • Match Analysis

| Atlético Madrid

| Alfredo Di Stéfano

| 2 : 0 (Casemiro, Oblak OG).

| Gameweek 13

[ THREAD ]

#RealMadridAtleti #RMLive

| Summary:

• Real Madrid won Derbi Madrileño in more comfortable fashion than expected, allowing one shot on target (80th min) & 2 chances in total for Atléti throughout the game.

• Zidane had his team prepared to deal with Cholo's men & dominate crucial areas of the pitch

| Goals :

• Real Madrid scored both goals in not very orthodox Madrid way, first through a first post header by Casemiro & then long-range shot by Carvajal who deflected from post into Oblak & doubled the lead.

Zidane's assistant David Bettoni had a lot to do here.

| David Bettoni role:

Both Zidane & Casemiro explained after the game that Real Madrid used video-analysis to point the weaknesses into Atléti's game – crossing into first post was the idea of Zizou's assistant who prepared the team throughout the week for it.

| Tactical Work

▪︎Zinedine Zidane started the game with a more predictable set of players, Carvajal made his return & Lucas Vázquez moved from RB to RW (which later was reversed), Vinícius kept his place & pretty much everything else was expected given available players.

| Build Up [2/4]

• Real Madrid used different variations of building out from the back, 4 were most frequently used.

• Zidane liked his players to always be one extra when facing Atléti, Simeone's 5 at back & Suárez/Félix duo made it even easier.

• When building from deep, usually Kroos would move more into the left creating a triangle with Vinícius & Mendy as Ramos remained the outlet behind — Spaniard was key into switching from deep areas where Madrid formed same triangle w/ Modrić, Carvajal & Lucas Vázquez.

• Casemiro & Benzema would act as way out, the French forward would move from one side to the other depending where possession is dragging Atléti's line further, that allowed Madrid to use runs from deeper areas to disturb Simeone men consistently.

| Build Up [4/4]

• Kroos changed his position in accordance to Atlèti's press, he would move between the CBs and spread the play, Modrić would drop deeper in support while one of Viní/Mendy or Lucas/Dani would be in half spaces.

It's all about asserting dominance.

• Main plan of Zizou was to control the ground and move the ball, have Atlético consistently on the edge & it was helped by the fact that neither Suárez or Félix were pressing to the necessary extent giving spaces to both Kroos & Modrić to maneuver and work around Atléti's block

| Real Madrid's Pressing

• Zidane has used man-to-man press all season long & its been one of main reasons why Madrid ran out of gas in games, but against Atléti he decided to shield their left flank completely allowing more spaces to the right side.

• Zidane used Vinícius physical prowess to almost perfection, young Brazilian was relentless against the ball, from pressing Felipe/Hermoso alongside Benzema to coming back & helping Ferland Mendy once Atléti made the switch.

• Mendy had the hardest job of all. He was tasked with blocking both Trippier & Llorente due to Viní's role, the Brazilian did help a lot but the Frenchmen LB was key to Madrid's efficient press as he kept both of them quiet.

• Madrid's scheme was helped a lot on first half by absence of Sául who came on for the 2nd, but by the time Spanish International came on, Zidane had made the right adjustments (which we will talk in a bit about).

• Zidane had the defensive plan clear.

• Block Hermoso's passing lanes forward, don't allow Koke space to turn & shield Carrasco from space which was executed to near perfection by his players. Once RM blocked the 3 key lines, Atléti were completely nullified & were trying desperate passes into space for Suárez.

| Madrid's more passive block

• You can't press for 90 mins like Madrid were, especially not this season given schedule, so Zidane used a 433 – 451 to create a midfield block line & control the zones with wingers tucking in when necessary.

• Essentially Madrid would only trigger the press after a bad touch/move instead of trying to force it consistently, and they forced a lot of turnovers as Atléti weak points on possession (Felipe/Herrera) were set up in traps. Casemiro did a great job covering the spaces.

| Second half adjustments

• Simeone reacted early on second half but to no success, Real Madrid continued holding their lines & killing the passes forward between the MF & DEF line and balls over the top were impossible due to Varane/Ramos and Casemiro positioning.

• Vinícius stayed wide on 2nd half dealing with Trippier as Mendy would sometimes tuck in to support Kroos, Benzema remained as the player offering himself between the lines & helping possession progress further, even with changes (Asensio/Rodrygo/Valverde) set up didn't change.

• Real Madrid got a much deserved 2-0 victory & lapses in concentration (Lemar & Saúl) happen, they are players and Madrid got lucky with first & Courtois did his job with 2nd.

Every player had a huge role & performance which allowed RM to be in that position.

Modrić, Kroos & Benzema were stand-outs on and off possession making everything tick, but that doesn't take away from all the players showing up.

Zidane must be thrilled with the result & will look to build on momentum created by this game.

| End of thread!

Hopefully you enjoyed this & make sure to let me know on areas to improve & also what your thoughts about the game are –

Real Madrid plays Athletic Bilbao next & we will cover it too.

íHalaMadrid!

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