Diego Simeone Identifies Real Madrid’s Vulnerability

Atletico Madrid secured a significant victory, defeating Real Madrid 3-1 at the Metropolitano Stadium. Alvaro Morata’s brace and Antoine Griezmann’s goal gave the home team all three points, while Toni Kroos found the net for Real Madrid. The match raised questions about the lineup and tactics, with Carlo Ancelotti facing heavy criticism.

Ancelotti made notable changes to his lineup, dropping the in-form Aurelien Tchouameni and altering Jude Bellingham’s role. Some Real Madrid fans questioned the decision to experiment in a high-stakes game, and the outcome seemed to validate those concerns.

Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid’s manager, commented on Real Madrid’s vulnerabilities after the game, stating, “They [Real Madrid full-backs] work that way. They have defended very high in other games, and when their full-backs came out, there were options for our midfielders. It was finding the back post, where they suffered the most.”

While the defeat to crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid was disheartening, it’s important not to panic too early for Real Madrid fans. Ancelotti’s team had won all six of their previous games in the season before this match, and losing to Atletico away at the Metropolitano Stadium is not a catastrophic outcome.

However, it’s also crucial to acknowledge the team’s shortcomings early. This was not the first underwhelming performance of the season. In several games, Real Madrid has appeared off-color, with late winners from Bellingham often masking underlying issues that have persisted.

One significant factor is the lack of depth in several positions, as the club did not make sufficient reinforcements during the summer transfer window. While it’s easy to point fingers at Ancelotti, it’s essential to recognize the challenges he has faced with the squad at his disposal.