Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid: A Cagey First Leg & What to Expect in the Second
Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid is always a fiercely contested fixture. When the Champions League anthem plays, the stakes rise even higher. The first leg of this Round of 16 clash was a tactical battle where both teams played with caution. The build-up to the game centered around the absence of Jude Bellingham and concerns over Federico Valverde’s fitness. Meanwhile, Atlético arrived on a 10-match unbeaten run.
Despite its controlled nature, the game came alive in key moments. Real Madrid capitalized on their early attacking quality, Atlético responded with structure and intensity, and in the end, individual brilliance made the difference. Post-match, both coaches acknowledged Madrid’s slight edge but emphasized that there was work to be done in the second leg, this tie is far from over.
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First Half
Real Madrid wasted no time making an impact. Rodrygo, playing with sharpness and intent, took full advantage of Atlético’s defensive setup. In the 4th minute, Valverde played a perfectly weighted through ball, slicing through Clément Lenglet and Javi Galán, and Rodrygo cut in past the two CBs and coolly slotted past Jan Oblak.
Minutes later, Antonio Rüdiger switched play with a cross-field pass, again finding Rodrygo in space behind Galán. The Brazilian skipped past his marker and went down in the box under contact, but the referee waved away penalty claims. These moments exposed early cracks in Atlético’s left side, making Galán and Lenglet look shaky and in for a long night.
Real Madrid settled into their familiar 4-4-2 mid-block, pressing on heavy touches while staying compact off the ball. In possession, their movement was fluid and dynamic, with players interchanging positions, making it difficult for Atlético to track runners.
Atlético also lined up in a 4-4-2, but their setup had distinct patterns. Galán pushed forward aggressively, allowing Lino to drift centrally, while Marcos Llorente played deeper, acting as a right-sided center-back. Meanwhile, Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann constantly dropped deep, pulling Madrid’s midfielders and defenders out of position to create space.
After an early spell of Madrid’s precision and attacking brilliance, Atlético grew into the game, overloading central areas and forcing Madrid into rushed situations. This is where Valverde truly shone. Atlético repeatedly targeted his side, attempting to overload the left flank. Yet, Valverde’s awareness, discipline, and athleticism ensured Madrid never crumbled.
Twice in quick succession, he made goal-saving interventions, cutting out dangerous crosses inside the box. What made his performance exceptional wasn’t just his technical ability, but his reading of the game—positioning, never overcommitting, and making decisive tackles under pressure. He was Madrid’s safety net, counteracting Atlético’s tactical approach while also delivering key moments going forward.
At the half-hour mark, Atlético struck back. Julián Álvarez picked up the ball on the edge of the box, took on Eduardo Camavinga with composure, and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Thibaut Courtois. With an initial xG of just 0.03, he had plenty to do after beating his man—his angle was tight, the finish had to be perfect, and he executed it flawlessly.
By halftime, Atlético had gained control in possession (54%). Pablo Barrios dictated play in midfield, Rodrigo De Paul found half-spaces, and Griezmann took up deeper positions to link play. Madrid, after their early dominance, had lost their grip on the game.
Second Half
Both teams came out with intent, but Atlético looked sharper in possession, moving the ball with more purpose. Then came the turning point. Brahim Díaz, in a moment of sheer brilliance, put Madrid ahead. His movement mirrored Jude Bellingham’s signature attacking runs—checking towards the ball, releasing a pass, then darting into space before taking on defenders. His close control in tight areas, balance, and precision finish were top-class.
Trailing 2-1, Simeone reacted with changes to inject more energy into Atlético’s approach. Conor Gallagher and Nahuel Molina came on first, adding intensity to the press and forcing Madrid deeper.
Simeone then shifted to a back three, bringing on Robin Le Normand for Griezmann to hold the ball higher up the pitch, supported by three center-backs and advanced wingbacks. Finally, Alexander Sørloth replaced Barrios, giving Atlético a more direct outlet up front, supported by Álvarez and Ángel Correa from wide areas. Despite seeing more of the ball, Atlético struggled to create clear-cut chances, as Madrid absorbed pressure effectively.
Madrid, on the other hand, took control with Luka Modrić’s introduction at the hour mark. His composure in possession allowed Madrid to slow the game down, dictate tempo, and free up Aurélien Tchouaméni to play more aggressively. Madrid pressed higher, recovered second balls, and regained control, neutralizing Atlético’s attacking push.
As the game neared its end, Madrid managed the final moments expertly. With Barrios off, Atlético lost their midfield rhythm, and Madrid saw out the game comfortably. Ancelotti once again maximized his squad depth, with Brahim repaying the trust placed in him—three tackles, four interceptions, and an all-action display on both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Valverde delivered a defensive masterclass, proving decisive in Madrid’s ability to shut down Atlético.
The final chance of the game fell to Kylian Mbappé, but his failure to square the ball to Vinícius in a clear scoring position left Atlético with a lifeline. How costly will that moment prove? We’ll soon find out.
What to Expect in the Next Game
The second leg at the Metropolitano comes at a key moment for Atlético—not just in Europe, but in their domestic campaign. A win would keep their Champions League run alive and provide momentum before their next La Liga match against Barcelona, the current league leaders. Their weekend loss to Getafe was a missed opportunity. A win would have put them top of La Liga, but instead, they now sit third, adding extra pressure to this decisive week.
In the first leg, Atlético controlled possession but struggled to turn that into clear chances. Their expected goals (xG) of 0.27 highlighted their lack of cutting edge, something they must improve to turn the tie around. With Real Madrid’s defensive situation still unclear, Courtois and Rudiger doubtful, Atlético may push higher, apply more pressure, and commit more numbers forward than they did in the first leg.
Madrid will head into the second leg with a one-goal advantage and a big boost—Jude Bellingham is back. After missing the first leg due to injury, the English midfielder is expected to return, adding an extra layer of goal threat and midfield presence. While Atlético were successful in limiting Vinícius Jr. and Mbappé to just 0.26 xG + xA combined, the second leg presents a different challenge. If Atlético commit more bodies forward, Madrid’s counter-attacking threat will be even more dangerous.
Who Has the Edge?
This tie remains finely balanced.
- Atlético need to take more risks in attack and create higher-quality chances.
- Madrid will aim to control possession and exploit counter-attacking opportunities.
- Bellingham’s return could be the key factor, giving Madrid another outlet to break down Atlético’s defense.
With both teams making clear adjustments, the second leg could come down to who executes better on the night. The first leg was decided by moments. The second could follow the same pattern.
By: Sukhman Singh / @5ukhman5ingh
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Fran Santiago – Getty Images