A game that usually has an important say in the title race became more one-sided than ever on Saturday night as Atlético Madrid kept up their credentials to stay just three points behind La Liga leaders Real Sociedad with two games in hand thanks to a victory over Barcelona at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.
Atlético Madrid won the tie thanks to Yannick Carrascos goal on the stroke of half-time, breaking forward and playing the ball between Marc-André Ter Stegens legs before slotting into an empty net. As will be outlined in this analysis, such counter-attacks were key to the Atlético Madrid game plan against Barcelona.
This tactical analysis of Atlético Madrid and Barcelona in their La Liga fixture will consider the tactics of Diego Simeone and Ronald Koeman in an analysis which underlines how Atletico Madrid ran out 1-0 winners.
Line-ups
Atlético had to contend with some important absentees as Luis Suárez and Lucas Torreira were ruled out with Covid-19 caught while on international duty with Uruguay. Simeone opted to field Ángel Correa in attack with Carrasco and Marcos Llorente operating on either flank, with Mario Hermoso again preferred at left-back.
Koeman sprung no surprises with his selection, giving starts to Ousmane Dembélé and Miralem Pjanić in midfield due to injuries to Philippe Coutinho, who returned to the bench and came on as a substitute, and Sergio Busquets, who picked up a knee injury while on international duty.
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