Atletico Madrid system shift paying dividends in the final stages of the season

Atletico Madrid finally look a little more secure at the back again, after long stretches of the season having been shaky and unreliable. It has not gone unnoticed that the very thing that Diego Simeone’s sides became famous for were the thing causing them more trouble than anything else.

As highlighted by Diario AS, Saturday’s win over Real Mallorca was their first match recording a clean sheet in 13 games, three months after their previous shutout. Not to mention the fact that it is just their second away win of 2024.

#AtleticoMadrid finally secured a clean sheet for the first time in 13 matches over the weekend. (Diario AS) pic.twitter.com/HFhiuU1Gli

— Football España (@footballespana_) May 6, 2024

That change has been attributed to tweak made by Simeone, switching from a 5-3-2 with Antoine Griezmann accompanied by a number nine, normally Alvaro Morata, to a 5-4-1 with Griezmann the furthest forward on many occasions. The idea being that the two central players behind Griezmann, in the last two weeks Marcos Llorente and Angel Correa, with one of them attacking the space in behind the defence, another coming short, and Griezmann having space to move.

At the back the extra security provided by another midfielder has also helped, and Atletico looked much better against Mallorca. Simeone made the change after a frustrating defeat to Alaves away from home, and had it not been for an errant ball from Griezmann against Athletic Club, they may well be savouring a second straight clean sheet.