#sorloth

PRE MATCH

The front four is Lookman/Sorloth/Griezmann/Giuliano simeone. Alvarez has really gone off keel since lookman came in. Espanyol is a battling team and Griezzman Sorloth may need a rotation circa 70th minute but I like this, sorloth or griezzman have a smother game back to goal.

MATCH THOUGHTS

Commentary in comments

CLOSING THOUGHTS

THOUGHTS

FIRST Half

I watched Atleti in te Simeone Tenure from the beginning. Simeone started with a hard counterattack,

then he used an open style

And he has been trying to get Atleti to play a suffocating possession style.

Each way has its strength and weaknesses.

The hard counterattacks strength is the collective defense is strongest absent the ball. The weakness is the distance from goal requires players who can run the distance of the pitch under pressure and score with a high goal per attempt ratio.

The open style's strength is flexibility. By spacing a team out in defense or attack, you force one on one situations to the advantage of the whole, while protect one on one situations that are not advantageous. The weakness is the same flexibility can be exploited by the opponent.

The possession style's strength is the collective attack with the ball. It offers a defense through possession while the shortest route to attack. The weakness

Lookman in the entire first half, positioned himself not wide but off wide. Always back to goal, always onside, always looking for the one two, only when betis were halfway up the pitch or collectively pushing up did Lookman look to trigger the offside trap. And I saw him go to Simeone early in the first half to conference. Lookman did what Simone wanted and that is to support possession.

Antony's goal

Oblak worried and stepped over and Antony read it.

https://x.com/natanlaliga/status/2020561742628032888

AT HALFTIME

Alvarez out for sorloth ruggeri out for le normand almada out for baena

the number of miscommunicated passes in the first half was telling by the players. Some were clearly tired or not in synch

SECOND HALF

54:30 Mendoza out for Griezzman

58:56 Sorloth's corner to Sorloth was saved.

Simeone put Guiliano + Lookman on the same side circa 61st minute.