Bayern to Provide True Test of Atletico's Defensive Resolve

If someone repeated the age old adage ‘the best defence is a good offence’ to Diego Simeone, he would be one to quickly point said person in the direction of his Atletico Madrid team. A solid backline is the foundation upon which his current Colchoneros side is built. A regimented approach has helped propel Atletico to second in La Liga, level on points with table toppers Barcelona owing to their inferior head-to-head record. 

However, while Barcelona have the upper hand in the final stretch of the Primera Division’s title race, it was Atletico’s defensive resolve that knocked the Blaugrana out of the Champions League earlier this month as Simeone’s side reached the last four of Europe’s elite competition for the second time in the last three years. A two-legged affair with Bayern Munich is all that stands between Atletico and another Champions League final place, an obstacle that will be tough to navigate for the Madrid side. 

Fortunately for them, though, the first leg takes place at the Calderon. While teams will often favour playing away from home in the first of two games, it’s in front of their raucous fan base where Atletico thrive. La Liga's title contenders have conceded just seven league goals in 17 games at home this season, while in European competition, it’s been 428 minutes of action - excluding penalty shoot-outs - since Jan Oblak was forced to pick the ball out of his net - Goncalo Guedes the last opposing player to score against Atletico in the Champions League as Benfica came out surprise 2-1 winners back in September. 

Indeed, the two goals shipped that eventful evening are the only two Atletico have conceded at home in the Europe's top club tournament this season. With Simeone at the helm, Atletico have conceded just four goals in 16 home Champions League fixtures. In front of their own fans, Los Rojiblancos are as resolute as they come. They will need to maintain their impressive resilience against Bayern on Wednesday night if they are to secure a first leg advantage. 

Bayern have scored more goals (28) than any other team in the Champions League this season and the general consensus is that if any team can break down this Atletico side, it’s the Bundesliga giants. Pep Guardiola’s sides have routinely gotten the better of Atleti in the past, with the Spaniard winning eight of the 10 encounters he has managed, though he has only faced off against Simeone once. While that resulted in a 2-1 win for Guardiola’s Barcelona team, it’s difficult to look too much into that result given it was Simeone’s 10th game at the Atletico helm. 

In the time since, the Argentine has developed significantly as a manager. Having ousted Barcelona from the competition and successfully kept Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in check on home turf, there is no reason why they can’t do the same to Bayern. Even without vice-captain Diego Godin, Atletico’s defence are disciplined enough to ease his absence. Of course, the Uruguayan’s hamstring injury will hinder Aletico’s chances of a clean sheet and victory.

Godin has made more interceptions (32) than any other player in the Champions League this season, with his European WhoScored rating (7.59) bettered only by Antoine Griezmann (7.61) of all Atletico players. His unavailability is of course a blow, but in reserve, Simeone can call on centre-backs more than capable of performing to the same commitment levels as Atletico’s second in command. Gimenez has proven to be a steadfast partner at the heart of the defence, while 20-year-old Lucas Hernandez has shown to be a more than capable stand in when it’s required, evidenced in the way he excellently kept the Barcelona offensive at bay in only the second Champions League start of his career. 

With experienced pair Juanfran and Filipe Luis operating at right and left-back respectively, Atletico remain one of the toughest teams to break down across Europe, remaining compact enough to restrict the opposition. This in turn forces teams out wide as the space is suffocated in the centre and then it’s a case of maintaining concentration levels to navigate the danger. It’s this approach that means Atletico have conceded fewer goals (5) than any other Champions League team this season. 

Yet it isn’t just their defensive organisation that has rightly earned Atletico the plaudits. Granted, Simeone has drilled his demands into the players and they follow his plan to a tee, but it’s the motivation and confidence he instills that propels his players to the next level. These are defenders that would give their all for the cause, much as Simeone did during his playing days. In effect, the outfielders at his disposal are a mirror image of their manager, with Simeone famously describing his own playing style as that of a man “holding a knife between his teeth”.  

The intensity shown by his players is in its own right is a work of art, similar to the offensive tactical changes Guardiola makes in order to swing a tie back in his side’s favour. It’s impossible to quantify the effort the players put in in order to help secure Atletico victory, but 24.6 tackles per game - the third most in the Champions League this season - is an indication of the high work ethic required to ensure that they emerge victorious, no matter the opponent. 

Wednesday’s welcome of Bayern will prove to be no different. Granted, the odds are somewhat stacked against Atletico, but at the Calderon; Simeone’s men have every right to be confident of another positive result.

Who do you think will come out on top when Atletico face Bayern on Wednesday night? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below