An affair touted as two bright football masterminds clashing in the Champions League Round of 16 ended in a handy 1-0 away victory to Thomas Tuchel’s Blues.
Chelsea faced stern competition in the form of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid who they now boast a lofty record against; being the only English team to win against them twice.
It was nothing less of a shock to see Diego Simeone enter the game with his now popular 3-5-2 formation, which has evolved from his previous low block 4-4-2 that became synonymous with the style to expect from Los Colchoneros.
Simeone’s curious approach to the game came in the form of setting up in a defensive shape of a 6-3-1 behind the ball as the reliable yet versatile, Marcos Llorente, was tasked with sticking to his man in Timo Werner.
Atletico Madrid have only lost two of their 11 home games against English clubs in Europe.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 23, 2021
They were both against Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/UDaI9tHVqe
The Chelsea man continuously ran into the half-spaces between the compact low block and the same could be said of Hermoso with Mason Mount and Thomas Lemar with Callum Hudson-Odoi.