Atletico Madrid: low-block discipline and the corner-routine rest-defence
Simeone's defence of the box remains the foundation. The desk tracks Griezmann's free No. 10 role and the Oblak save rate.
Last-five form: W D W W L
Form W D W W L across the last five. The team's xG per match across the last ten is 1.5 — in the league's top three. Goals conceded per match: 0.8. Press-success rate in the final third: 28%. Set-piece goals have powered 29% of the team's goals across the season.
Squad watch
The build-up shape switches by opposition. Against low blocks the team uses an inverted full-back to create a 3v2 in the middle third. Antoine Griezmann's role as a free No. 8 has been the structural change of the season. Wide carries are the chief creation source; the wide-Final-Third involvement has climbed to 41% of total touches in the attacking third.
The defensive shape is a back-five mid-low block by default. The press cue is the opposition's wide centre-back first touch; the rest-defence sits 35 yards from goal. Jan Oblak has a save rate of 81% — among the league leaders — and his distribution-launch success has cut the team's defensive transition losses by a quarter.
Next three fixtures
vs Real Madrid (home), vs Sevilla (away), vs Barcelona (home).
Depth chart
GK: Oblak. Back five: Llorente-Savic-Hermoso-Reinildo-Lino. Midfield: De Paul-Koke-Barrios. Front two: Griezmann-Morata. Bench: Correa, Riquelme, Gallagher.
Editor's note
The ceiling is when the press wins the ball inside 8 seconds and the wide carries split the back line. The floor is when the opposing No. 6 sits in the half-space and the wide centre-back has no clean press cue. The trade window is typically used on a depth right-back or an impact No. 9; the title run will be decided in transition, not possession.
