from arsenal.com
Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme: Simeone has started with a 4-4-2 formation in most games this season. It’s a bold shape he used in major tests against Real Madrid and Liverpool, scoring seven times across those two fixtures, so it is their most likely set-up.
The Argentine has gradually moved away from a compact and physical defence-focused style in recent seasons, opting for a far more attacking approach. Confident at popping the ball around they have made sequences of 10 or more passes 40 times across their opening two Champions League fixtures, only behind Manchester City and Bayern Munich. They are still balanced enough to flip to a counter-attacking style when it suits them, scoring four goals from fast breaks already in 2025/26.
Atletico’s squad contains plenty of natural goalscorers, but we must also be watchful of right-back Marcos Llorente’s forward runs. Only three players have made more ball carries in La Liga than the adventurous 30-year-old [above], who loves to pop up inside the final third. We saw that at Anfield last month when Llorente scored twice in a 3-2 loss at Liverpool. Their set plays also need to be respected.
Protecting leads away from home has been an issue for Atletico. They have taken the lead in all five La Liga away matches so far, yet they have earned just three points - and zero victories. Simeone’s side are vulnerable to counter-attacks. Far more open than they used to be, they are sometimes guilty of leaving gaps which can be exploited, and they have yet to keep a clean sheet on the road.