Atlético de Madrid, clear candidate to win the Spanish League

Atletico de Madrid won 1-0 against FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF drew 1-1 with Villareal CF. Real Madrid and Barcelona have not yet started in this league. The two teams, initially favourites to win this COVID League, have not found the formula to make a colourful and effective football. Both have very big defensive deficiencies and they do not generate football offensively either. A lot of control, a lot of possession, but without generating chances of goal.

On the other hand, Atlético de Madrid seems to have achieved a very solid team in defence and quite reliable in attack. The incomprehensible case of Marcos Llorente stands out; a player who is giving a more than acceptable result and makes one doubt a lot about Real Madrid's policy when it comes to managing its team since he was part of it.

Barcelona came out much worse off. Firstly because they lost the match. One of their best players, if not the best at the moment, their goalkeeper Ter Stegen, made a mistake because of too much desire. He went out for a ball 40 meters from his goal without need. He measured very badly. Although it was a good pass to Carrasco, who was undoubtedly the best player of Atlético, the azulgrana defence had enough time to cover the internment without problems.

Second because Piqué and Sergi Roberto were injured. The first one of gravity. On Tuesday they play in Kiev. In the Champions League they have practically assured their passage to the second round as they won their first three games, but the team is going through problems. Barcelona is a team with a lot of possession, but without imbalance. Messi does not work and Barça does not work. In De Jong's midfield, being a good element, I think he doesn't meet the expectations for which he was brought in. Pjanic at the moment has a very discreet role, it does not seem that it contributes anything either. Pedri has confidence, he has quality, but he is a 17 year old boy and he cannot be given the responsibility either. Dembélé seems to be catching on. If he is not injured and maintains this level he can contribute a lot to the attack and to the blueberry imbalance. Griezmann is totally missing, he doesn't contribute anything.

Koeman has to recover the best Messi; if that doesn't happen, Barcelona is very predictable. Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto were reasonably good, as was Piqué. Lenglet, within his possibilities, was not out of line.

In fact, the impression given by the match between Atlético and Barcelona is that Atlético de Madrid, if they had wanted to step on the gas, would have achieved a more comprehensive result. He dedicated himself a little to appease, to maintain the result, he took out Diego Costa to hold the ball and he did it very well. João Félix was involved, but the matches with his national team were noticeable, he was not as fresh as before. Koke very well, it did not seem that he had played with the national team

Atlético's defense is very solid. But of course, the defence starts from the first forward. Jiménez, Savic and Trippier very well, but above all Mario Hermoso who came out clearly to cover the rises of Jordi Alba.
Yannick Carrasco commented that he has already got used to and understood the philosophy of Cholo, of effort, work and defense. Llorente and Saul had a very remarkable physical display. Up Joao Félix and Correa more of the same, a lot of work.

This Atlético de Madrid, if it maintains its physical level and its success in front of goal with Luis Suárez and João Félix as protagonists, can be a serious candidate to win the League and to make something big in Europe

Madrid drew. Zidane's team got off to a good start. But you can clearly see the lack of staff and the lack of petrol in the players, especially when they come back from their national team matches. That added to the COVID, which affected Militão, Jovic and, above all, Casemiro, who could not participate.

As we said in previous articles, Real Madrid only uses 14 players, on the last day they used one of those who seem to be sentenced and do not count for Zidane. He was the one who scored the first goal, Mariano. But he will probably be ostracized again when his teammates become available.

With regard to the defence it seems that they have improved quite a lot. Varane and Nacho were reasonably solid. On the flanks it was noted that Carvajal brings attack and defence, although he must be taken care of because there are no spare guarantees. Lucas is very generous in the effort, but against fast teams he suffers a lot. Mendy was good in defense, but he didn't contribute anything in attack. In the centre of the field Modric was the best, he always asked for the ball, unblocked and directed. Toni Kroos and Martin Odegaard were not bad either until they lasted the gas. In the forefront Mariano scored a good goal as a born centre forward, but later on he did not get any ball, Lucas was willing but not very effective, and Hazard, the star of the team, still does not bring anything more than passes, passes and passes, but he does not unbalance. A couple of weeks ago he scored a good goal against Huesca and little more.

There are still players who do not reach the appropriate physical level for a Real Madrid team, this is the case of Vinicius, Hazard, Asensio, Marcelo and, above all, Isco.

When Villareal, a well-prepared team with a lot of speed, draws, the white team is powerless to score another goal. Vinicius, Isco and Asensio came in, theoretically fresh, and Real Madrid did not generate any football and also lost its solidity. The Brazilian lost a ball that led to the Castellon team's counter-attack in which Courtois measured his exit badly by taking a clear penalty. Bad the white goalkeeper in that action.

On Wednesday Inter is waiting with Lautaro, Lukaku, Perisic, Alexis, Achraf, Vidal and company. They are playing for their continuity in the Champions League and Madrid can get very complicated if they lose.