Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis 02082026
THOUGHTS
FIRST Half
I watched Atleti in te Simeone Tenure from the beginning. Simeone started with a hard counterattack,
then he used an open style
And he has been trying to get Atleti to play a suffocating possession style.
Each way has its strength and weaknesses.
The hard counterattacks strength is the collective defense is strongest absent the ball. The weakness is the distance from goal requires players who can run the distance of the pitch under pressure and score with a high goal per attempt ratio.
The open style's strength is flexibility. By spacing a team out in defense or attack, you force one on one situations to the advantage of the whole, while protect one on one situations that are not advantageous. The weakness is the same flexibility can be exploited by the opponent.
The possession style's strength is the collective attack with the ball. It offers a defense through possession while the shortest route to attack. The weakness
Lookman in the entire first half, positioned himself not wide but off wide. Always back to goal, always onside, always looking for the one two, only when betis were halfway up the pitch or collectively pushing up did Lookman look to trigger the offside trap. And I saw him go to Simeone early in the first half to conference. Lookman did what Simone wanted and that is to support possession.
Antony's goal
Oblak worried and stepped over and Antony read it.
https://x.com/natanlaliga/status/2020561742628032888
AT HALFTIME
Alvarez out for sorloth ruggeri out for le normand almada out for baena
the number of miscommunicated passes in the first half was telling by the players. Some were clearly tired or not in synch
SECOND HALF
54:30 Mendoza out for Griezzman
58:56 Sorloth's corner to Sorloth was saved.
Simeone put Guiliano + Lookman on the same side circa 61st minute.
COMMENTS SECTION BELOW HAS THE REST
