Simeone’s main doubt to receive FC Barcelona at the Metropolitano

The context of this Atlético-Barça is radically completely different from earlier seasons. With the league virtually out of attain for the crimson and whites (16 factors behind the chief), the teaching employees has determined to prioritize effort administration. Nevertheless, it’s not a few give up, however fairly a strategic transfer: Cholo needs to show this Saturday’s match right into a minefield for Barça, hoping that the Blaugranas arrive exhausted for subsequent Tuesday’s European occasion.

To attain this put on, Simeone is contemplating a lineup with atypical nuances that seeks to make the Catalan ball circulation uncomfortable. The precedence is to take care of a excessive and aggressive block, utilizing the league match as an actual testing laboratory. On this situation, the Argentine coach’s board focuses on an space of ​​the sphere that can decide the steadiness of all the system: the correct aspect, the place the configuration of items might change drastically in comparison with the previous couple of days.

The redemption of Nahuel Molina and the Llorente motion

The principle doubt, and on the similar time Simeone’s nice temptation, is to belief Nahuel Molina once more as a starter on the correct aspect. The Argentine goes by way of his finest second since arriving on the membership, exhibiting a stage of confidence and precision within the heart that has been paying homage to his world champion model. His latest efficiency will not be solely nice information individually, however it presents Cholo the important thing to fixing a structural drawback in one other space of ​​the sphere that significantly worries him.

If Molina occupies the lane, Marcos Llorente could be free of his defensive duties on the wing to behave as an inside participant. This transfer will not be a coincidence, since with the confirmed absences of Pablo Barrios and the discomfort of different midfielders they’ve left the midfield at minimal ranges. Simeone is aware of that he wants the bodily deployment of Llorente within the heart to chunk the ball out of Barça’s interiors and stop them from feeling comfy within the Metropolitan, thus replicating a extra rocky containment scheme.

The Copa precedent: a profitable plan

This motion of items will not be a blind experiment, however a tactic that has already paid dividends for Simeone this season. Throughout the latest Copa del Rey tie in opposition to Flick’s similar staff, Cholo already opted for this similar system, with Molina guarding the wing on the again and Llorente placing from the within. That day, the Madrilenian’s depth within the stress suffocated the Barça creation, demonstrating that it’s the finest weapon to deactivate Barcelona’s positional play.

We do not speak a lot about Marcos Llorente, and it’s as a result of we’ve got turn out to be accustomed to him sustaining a unprecedented stage.

He’s presently, undoubtedly, the very best proper again on this planet. And likewise if the man has to play within the heart of the sphere to distribute the sport, then he does it.

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— Adrián Sierra (@AdriSierra_) February 13, 2026

Recovering that “Cup plan” for Saturday has a double intention. On the one hand, alleviate the dearth of personnel within the midfield with out dropping arrival; on the opposite, to ship a message of power earlier than the Champions League. If Molina manages to dry out his pair and Llorente recovers his most indomitable model within the heart, Atlético won’t solely compete for the pleasure of the league, however may have gained the primary psychological battle of a collection that guarantees to be historic in European soccer.