Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen | Tactical Analysis | Champions League 2024/25

Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen is one of the most anticipated clashes in this season’s Champions League. Atletico Madrid recently saw their 15-game win streak snapped with a surprising loss to Leganes. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen comes into this match riding high on an 11-game winning streak. Both teams have some players missing: Sorloth is out for Atletico Madrid, while Terrier is unavailable for Bayer Leverkusen. However, Leverkusen’s Boniface makes his return to the bench after two months out due to injury.

Starting XI’s Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen

Atletico Madrid Starting XI (4-4-2)

• GK: Oblak
• Defenders: Galán, Lenglet, Giménez, Molina
• Midfielders: Simeone, Barrios, De Paul, Llorente
• Attackers: Griezmann, Álvarez

Bayer Leverkusen Starting XI (3-4-2-1)

• GK: Kovář
• Defenders: Hincapié, Tah, Tapsoba
• Midfielders: Grimaldo, Palacios, Xhaka, Mukiele
• Attacking Midfielders: Wirtz, Frimpong
• Striker: Tella

First Half Analysis: Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen

The first half of Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen showcased a tactical battle where possession was largely dominated by the German side, but Atletico Madrid’s defensive resilience stood firm despite going down to 10 men. Here’s a deeper look into how the game unfolded in the opening 45 minutes.

Leverkusen’s Possession Dominance

From the start, Bayer Leverkusen controlled the game, holding 66% possession. They were quick in their attempts to break down Atletico Madrid, frequently switching the ball from one side to the other to create space. Despite this, Atletico Madrid remained compact and organized defensively. The high volume of ball circulation by Leverkusen is evident in their 55 final third entries, compared to Atletico‘s 19. However, their xG of just 0.06 reflects how little threat they posed in terms of quality chances, often finding themselves stuck at the edge of the box without the space to penetrate deeper.

Atletico Madrid’s Defensive Solidity

Without Barrios, who was sent off for a red card in the 23rd minute, Atletico Madrid switched to a more defensive posture. The team settled into a 5-3-1 formation when out of possession, ensuring that Leverkusen couldn’t find any space centrally. This compact defensive shape has made it difficult for Leverkusen to convert possession into meaningful attacks, with only 10 touches in the penalty area, an indication of how tight Atletico’s defense has been.

Even with Leverkusen pressing high, Atletico was able to keep their structure intact. In fact, Leverkusen struggled to get the ball inside the box, as Atletico Madrid ensured that their compact midfield and backline closed down the wide areas effectively. As a result, Leverkusen‘s shots on target have been limited, with 4 attempts on goal, none of which have posed a significant challenge to Oblak.

Leverkusen’s Flank Play and Atletico’s Counter-Attacks

While Atletico Madrid struggled to keep possession, they were still dangerous in their counter-attacks. Most of their attacking play came from the right, where they sought to exploit space, but the lack of an extra player in midfield has made it difficult for them to break down Leverkusen‘s defensive structure. In contrast, Leverkusen has tried to stretch the field, with Grimaldo and Frimpong pushing up on the left and right flanks. This width gave them an advantage, but their inability to penetrate centrally led to shots from distance, such as Tapsoba’s attempt in the 39th minute, which went wide and failed to test Oblak.

As the first half ends with Bayer Leverkusen leading 1-0, Atletico Madrid has shown strong defensive qualities but is now facing an even tougher task after going down to 10 men. Leverkusen, while dominating possession (66% to 34%) and enjoying the majority of final third entries (55 vs 19), will need to improve their efficiency in front of goal. Atletico Madrid, though reduced in numbers, will rely heavily on their defensive organization and counter-attacks as they seek to turn the tide in the second half.

Second Half Analysis: Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen

The second half of Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen was an exciting, high-paced, with both teams showing attacking intent, particularly after Leverkusen went down to 10 men following Hincapie‘s second yellow card.

Possession and Control

Despite their numerical advantage for much of the second half, Leverkusen dominated possession with 75%, compared to Atletico Madrid’s 25%. However, Atletico‘s compact defensive organization meant that Leverkusen struggled to translate their control into meaningful chances. Atletico, despite seeing far less of the ball, focused on quick transitions and counter-attacks, which proved to be highly effective. After the equalizer, Atletico looked increasingly confident, even with limited possession, as they found ways to push forward and create dangerous opportunities.

Attacking Play

With Leverkusen struggling to get through Atletico’s defense, which was compact and disciplined, Atletico used their counter-attacks to great effect. Álvarez‘s brilliant goal in the 52nd minute, when he took advantage of a failed Leverkusen attack and finished with composure, was a perfect example of Atletico‘s clinical nature. By the time Leverkusen had regrouped, Atletico was already pressing forward with a lot of space on the counter.

The second half also saw Atletico’s pressing game ramp up. After the 1-1 equalizer, they pressed aggressively, exploiting the spaces left by Leverkusen in search of a winner. Despite being out-possessed, Atletico Madrid had 23 final third entries compared to Leverkusen‘s 40, with many of them coming on quick breaks that kept Leverkusen‘s defense on edge.

Defensive Solidity

With Leverkusen attacking with more width, particularly from Frimpong and Grimaldo, Atletico’s defensive block remained incredibly solid. Despite Leverkusen pushing forward more after the red card and using the width of the pitch, Atletico‘s defensive shape in a 5-3-1 when they lost the ball was tough to break down. Leverkusen‘s chances became limited, with Wirtz being neutralized by Atletico’s compact midfield.

Late Drama

With the Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen clash stretched, Atletico Madrid took advantage of a scramble in the 90th minute. After a chaotic moment involving Correa and Xhaka, Álvarez was going in the right direction to capitalize and finish off a perfectly executed goal. His calm finish was the result of both his skill and Atletico’s tireless pressing.

Despite Leverkusen having a numerical advantage for a large portion of the second half, their attacking options were limited. The lack of creativity in central areas, especially after Wirtz was closely marked by multiple players, meant they were left trying to find ways around Atletico’s immovable defense.

Conclusion

In the end of the clash between Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid emerged victorious with a 2-1 comeback, thanks to a well-executed second half, their clinical finishing, and their unyielding defensive work. Despite Leverkusen‘s early dominance and the man advantage, Atletico Madrid‘s tactical discipline, combined with Álvarez‘s near perfect finishing, sealed the victory. This performance showed Atletico’s resilience under pressure, especially in such a high-stakes Champions League encounter.

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