5 tactics crucial for Bayern Munich to beat Atletico Madrid
Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid promises to be an epic encounter. While manager Diego Simeone’s Atletico team are riding high after beating Barcelona in the quarter-finals, Bayern are highly motivated to give outgoing coach Pep Guardiola a parting gift a la Jupp Heynckes.
The match is certain to be an intense tactical battle between two polar opposites. While Bayern are used to keeping possession and systematically breaking down defences, Atletico do what they do best: defend with courage and attack to win.
Here are five factors for the Reds of Munich that could decide one of the potential Champions League classics in their favour.
1) How Bayern beat Atletico’s high press
Having faced Barcelona (Guardiola’s former team) over the years, Simeone understands the importance of build-up plays for possession-based teams. Accordingly, he instructed his forwards to press high and cut out passing lanes against the Blaugrana: a tactic which ultimately paid off.
Guardiola will be aware of this and will look to make tactical adjustments at the back to beat Aleti pressure. David Alaba’s agility and passing in defence will be key to Bayern playing out from the back. Captain Philipp Lahm might play deeper than usual to assist centre-halves.
Meanwhile, youngster Joshua Kimmich is likely to be sacrificed for left-back Juan Bernat. The 21-year old has been nothing short of a revelation for Bayern this season but the pace of Bernat might be instrumental in overcoming Atletico, just as it was against a similar Juventus side in the round of 16.
Bayern against Atletico might be dubbed an ‘attack vs defence’ contest, but it will start with die Roten defenders passing and Rojiblancos attackers defending. How’s that for tactics?