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Barcelona will face Atlético de Madrid this weekend, in what would be a match that the locals must win.
The Catalans have dropped multiple points in recent weeks, allowing Real Madrid and Atleti to close the gap at the top.
Flick’s men, therefore, cannot afford another mishap. On the other hand, Atleti coach Diego Simeone is equally interested in adding three points and rising to the top of the league standings at the end of 2024.
Simeone’s game plan before the clash against Barcelona
A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered key information on how Simeone is preparing for the clash against Barcelona.
Simeone has already carried out intense training in Majadahonda, focused on both defensive solidity and offensive strategy.
The session was vital as Atlético are yet to achieve a victory against Barcelona in their previous 17 meetings in Catalonia.
On the defensive front, Simeone’s strategy was clear and concise. He instructed his defensive line to focus on closing down the central areas, preventing Barcelona’s key striker Robert Lewandowski from receiving the ball.
The objective is to block Barcelona’s offensive movements by ensuring that the midfield is tightly closed, thus limiting the space for Barcelona’s creative players to operate.
How Simeone plans to deal with Flick’s high pressure
At the same time, Simeone has devised tactics to get out of Barcelona’s notorious high pressing.
Their approach involves using long balls to get around the first line of pressure, followed by organizing quick counterattacks down the flanks.
This strategy aims to exploit the spaces left by Barcelona’s often advanced defensive line, with the aim of catching them off guard and creating scoring opportunities.
It should be noted that lately several La Liga teams have been able to overcome Barcelona’s tight pressure. It remains to be seen whether Simeone’s Atleti will be able to repeat the formula or not.
