The quarterfinals of the Champions League measure the Athletic of Madrid with the offensive Leipzig at the José Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, with some key aspects for the rojiblanco team, such as the goalkeeper Jan Oblak, his counterattack, his pressure on rival terrain, his exit of the ball with Diego Costa when it is retracted and the overflow of Marcos Llorente.
1 – THE OBLAK GUARANTEE:
Everything depends a lot almost always at Atlético on one figure above all: Jan Oblak. More so this course. It is his most decisive piece. There are very few victories for the rojiblanco team this season, even draws, that have not previously had a decisive stop – or more – from the Slovenian goalkeeper. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. You don't have to look very far back to confirm such a perception: 2-3 at Anfield was a 'miracle' of his. Without him, Atlético would never have had any option of advancing to the quarter-finals in which this Thursday awaits Leipzig in Lisbon.
2 – THE PRESSURE:
Atlético adjusted its pressure in the break, higher than it had proposed in the previous semester, but above all also much more refined. It is a mechanism that allows the rojiblanco team to play more in the opposite field, where they feel better today, even though their compact retreat is often unapproachable for their opponents, although it is not as much as in the past. The question is whether Simeone will bet on that pressure or on waiting for Leipzig in his territory. Everything points to a mixture of both records, with many changing matches in one.
3 – THE KICKBACK:
It is the best offensive skill of Atlético de Simeone, which feels much more comfortable, is more damaging to the opposing defense and creates many more occasions when he can put the steal and run formula into practice. The verticality and speed in the transition multiply Atlético offensively; long possessions, with few exceptions, cancel it when you have to tackle a retracted defense. The more you counterattack, the more chances you have. Leipzig knows it, which has already insisted on that virtue of its opponent.
4 – MARCOS LLORENTE:
Within that idea, Marcos Llorente is the most conclusive footballer at Atlético today. A staple in 11 of his team's last 22 goals. His speed, his game between the lines, his daring and his verticality are the most overwhelming current argument of the rojiblanco team against Leipzig. Atlético will depend on his intervention in the offensive transition this Thursday. Also of his contacts with the ball in decisive areas.
5 – THE DEPARTURE WITH DIEGO COSTA:
As there will also surely be many moments of withdrawal in Atlético, due to the way Leipzig plays, which assumes volume of possession and plays in the opposite field, but is also a fast and vertical block, which corners its opponent, the transcendence of Diego Costa is evident in the game for the rojiblanco team, because he represents his best solution in the face of overwhelm: he allows him to leave his area with a long ball so that he can hold it and promote the advancement of his team, beyond the other virtues for the forward's attack.
Graphic: SofaScore