Lliga | Round 22: FC Barcelona - Atlético de Madrid 2-1

[serghei]

I don't think Atletico controlled shit in this game outside the period up until their goal. They pressed us heavy, but we eventually found a way to unlock that pressing just like we did with Bilbao.

They had the exact same approach last year in the 2nd leg in the Copa del Rey, where we also suffered at the beginning because of their agressive pressing and also conceded early, but we found a way to unlock that, and we went on to score 3 in the first half, putting the tie to bed.

So I don't know why people think this is a first as far as Simeone's tactics against Barca are concerned. Same tactic was used in the 1-0 loss in CL on their home ground. But while it worked under Martino's Barca, who didn't seem to have an answer to it, it is now proving to be a loosing tactic against this Barca, because we also play with intensity if provoked.

 

[ThwiX]

This new way of playing against us that we have seen lately is good and all if they can score a couple of goals early.
If they can't do that before they get tired, they're pretty much fucked. It just requires too much energy for the other team to keep the pressure going. We saw that against Malaga, Bilbao and Atletico. When they got tired, it was pretty much over.

 

[serghei]

This new way of playing against us that we have seen lately is good and all if they can score a couple of goals early.
If they can't do that before they get tired, they're pretty much fucked. It just requires too much energy for the other team to keep the pressure going. We saw that against Malaga, Bilbao and Atletico. When they got tired, it was pretty much over.

It's not new, ThwiX. Real played in the exact same way back in 2011 in the Copa del Rey final, 5 years ago almost.

 

[raskolnikov]

Plenty of teams did that, Heynckens Bayern destroyed us with pressure like that with Martinez dominating Iniesta in midfield.

 

[serghei]

Plenty of teams did that, Heynckens Bayern destroyed us with pressure like that with Martinez dominating Iniesta in midfield.

Yep, and almost all of the teams that did it, they usually mixed it up with some parking the bus tactic as well, once they found themselves leading on the scoreboard.

I think teams do this pressing up top game against us to gain an advantage in the match, to give themselves something to actually defend later in the game. I don't think one of them expected to keep this rythm 90 min. But it's one thing to defend a 0-0 and another thing to defend a lead.

Classic Atletico would've been to keep that 1-0 for a long time, and in that sense, we did won the tactical game, because they conceded like twice in a few minutes. They game didn't really go in Atletico's favour, and we should get more credit for that.

 

[raskolnikov]

Yep, and almost all of the teams that did it, they usually mixed it up with some parking the bus tactic as well, once they found themselves leading on the scoreboard.

I think teams do this pressing up top game against us to gain an advantage in the match, to give themselves something to actually defend later in the game.. I don't think one of them expected to keep this rythm 90 min. But it's one thing to defend a 0-0 and another thing to defend a lead.

Yeah its a good strategy but prone to counter goals and expending too much energy early on.
I hope we pull it together though, we been scraping by recently. ona wrong night we can be 1/2 down at ht in the cl.
Im sure Arsenal been paying attention and will make things very tough for us come february with similair tactics.

 

[serghei]

Yeah its a good strategy but prone to counter goals and expending too much energy early on.
I hope we pull it together though, we been scraping by recently. ona wrong night we can be 1/2 down at ht in the cl.
Im sure Arsenal been paying attention and will make things very tough for us come february with similair tactics.

Same goes for the opponent. Somebody tries something like that against Barca, and they could be down 2 by half time. I want an open game and all fans should want that, because that means space for Messi, Neymar, and Suarez. In a good day for us, such tactic is suicidal for the other team. This wasn't a great day and Atletico still lost, as they did last year.

I like it that teams think playing like that is a winable tactic against this Barcelona. Everytime we can pass our way through that agressive pressing can lead to a big chance. And if the other team can't be aggresive enough in their pressing and still employ the tactic thinking they could do it (Arsenal, City probably), they're toast. Think Real Madrid last year in the 2nd half, when we could have scored 3-4 goals easy. They were playing up, trying to be aggresive, but doing a lousy job at it, and were bleeding chances in defence instead.

 

[ppxrare]

See, this is the difference between Luchos barca and the three previous coaches barca (including Guardiola). Teams figured out the previous Barcas and realized the best way to play them is park the bus and counter since we couldn't open a parked bus. That teams today are employing high pressure tactics is a testament to how they fear Barca and that they know parking the bus is a lost cause thus effectively making their high pressure tactics an all-in strategy since they have no idea what else to do. And yet we still beat them

 

[vlad]

[tw]693517460553781248[/tw] Treble confirmed again!!! Does that cat live in the stadium? Should be an emoticon of this

View attachment 6951

this cat probably travels to away matches also

 

[George_Costanza]

This. It's next to impossible to get the ball to MSN without Iniesta (when in form). Opponent just needs to press hard and cut us in the middle. This game could have been lost easily. I don't believe we would have survived second half with all ATM players on the pitch...especially when one considers that most of ATM's goals were scored in that period.

We won because they were dumb enough to play though AND we had a referee to punish that. That wasn't the case with Asspanyol few weeks ago. Also because of some brilliant Bravo moments.
ATM's teamplay and sync is above ours.

I don't know which game you watched but beside the first 15-20 minutes, we did dominate the game. I would think the send off was a blessing for ATM as our players didn't try hard to score the 3rd.

 

[serghei]

It's the cat from the Elche game? Probably lives at the stadium.

 

[te amo barca]

It's always 50-50 when teams try to press the hell of us; it depends on our form. If we are in, we have no problems with overcoming the pressure and creating chances. But such factors as poor form, pitch in a bad condition, away games can make Barca suffer. Eventually, no team can keep up with this approach for more than 60 minutes, this has been proven a lot time ago.

Take Real Madrid home game of the last season as an instance, we were shocking in the first half and Madrid had plenty of chances, but ultimately we ended up beating them in their own game. What I mean is that LE's Barca doesn't need to play academically as Guardiola's side did. If the opponent wants to play not football, but aggressive kick'n'run, we still win, thus this makes LE's team more flexible than Pep's.

 

[serghei]

I'd say it's more favourable for us, because we have Messi, Neymar, and Suarez, and this type of game suits them. A game like that is decided by the value of the players, and I think we are on top of world football at that right now. Other than that, I agree.

 

[Barcaman]

Just look how high Atlético played!

Gimenez' average position is in mid circle

Rakitic played as dm.

 

[Alik]

Actually, the "new tactic" that teams are attempting to employ on us is the "hack-em-down and injure them if possible" tactic. As evidenced by the matches vs Espanyol, Bilbao, and Atlético.