There is homework with Luis Suárez

The Athletic You are at a crossroads with Luis Suarez. When the '9' has not been, he has missed it; and now that he has returned, he cannot find it in the countryside. His presence in the squad was the key to the change in style, but in the last two games the team's play has penalized the striker, and vice versa, because it does not provide solutions. Simeone has a homework, because he needs his scorer at his best.

Against Real Madrid, Suárez could hardly put together a shot from the front without danger and rejected by the rear. In Salzburg, not even: zero attempts. In both meetings Atlético was dominated and did not connect with their forward. The team did not handle the ball and, above all, had to play further back than it would have liked to supply balls to its striker. Suárez, in addition, is not the best to help his teammates out when it is housed in your area. Each long ball is practically a gift for the rival, and that on Saturday made it much easier for Real Madrid to control.

At Di Stéfano, the Uruguayan only gave ten passes (one to João) in 73 minutes and in Austria, twelve in 64. It was an island away from the rest of his companions. Why João Felix He is used to approaching his midfielders to participate more in the elaboration, but Suárez is a predator of the area. At 50-60 meters gives less solutions of which it would contribute, for example, Diego Costa, more used to running after balls, lowering long deliveries and helping his teammates gain meters.

But Atlético this season does try to dominate, largely precisely to exploit the virtues of Luis Suárez. And for that reason, in fact, when the Uruguayan was not there because of the coronavirus, the team missed him. The rojiblancos generated a multitude of situations in the area that longed for the presence of a killer specialist in finishing balls that cross in front of the rival goalkeeper. The appointments against Lokomotiv, Valencia and Bayern showed the need to play with a forward that will transform the good game into goals.

Correa, the closest thing to a '9' for Simeone

Without Suarez, Simeone has entrusted the task of the goal to João Félix, Correa (this as the closest thing to a '9'), Llorente (entering from the right) and Carrasco (more like a lane). With them, all more second-line footballers, the team developed great football moments… but it lacked punch. And when the hit came back, the balls were scarce in the area. It is the puzzle to solve.

El Cholo does not waver in his confidence towards the Uruguayan. Against Salzburg he withdrew it after game time (and the footballer did not like it at all), but the team was already ahead on the scoreboard. But at Di Stéfano, the coach preferred to withdraw João Félix before him in his quest for a tie. Against Elche, the next day, Atleti will try to recover the plan that they have not been able to execute against Salzburg and Real Madrid and, without having the team so far from the rival goalkeeper, thus get the best of Suárez. But Simeone has homework ahead for games in which, as so often in the old days, Atleti does not dominate with the ball and in the rival field.