Chapter 78: The Strongest Line of Defense

Atlético Madrid is the third most successful football club in Spain’s history, ranking behind only their city rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona in terms of championship titles, season ticket holders, and overall revenue.

However, during the first decade of the 21st century, Atlético Madrid’s glory faded. Not only did they have to fight merely for a UEFA Cup spot, but they were even once relegated to the Segunda División. It wasn’t until late 2011, when Simeone officially took over as head coach, that things began to change. At that time, Atlético Madrid were languishing in tenth place in La Liga, struggling just to retain their place in Spain’s top flight.

Nearly five years have passed since, and the transformation of Atlético Madrid, both on and off the pitch, has been nothing short of remarkable.

Today, the team under Simeone is best known for its fierce yet meticulous defense. Their relentless, suffocating pressing throughout the match, combined with a disciplined, cohesive back line that expands and contracts with purpose, gives the impression that the very soul of Italian-style defending now resides in this modern, high-pressing midfield. Moreover, their counterattacks are sharp, and with Atlético’s defensive strength, scoring one or two goals is often enough to secure victory.

With this highly successful tactical system, Atlético Madrid have claimed a Europa League title, a La Liga championship, a UEFA Super Cup, a Copa del Rey, and a Spanish Super Cup, while also reaching the final of the Champions League. Such stellar achievements have ensured huge revenues from prize money and television rights, laying the foundation for Atlético Madrid’s resurgence.

In the previous round, Atlético managed a 1–0 away win against Getafe, marking their second consecutive victory. However, Barcelona’s strong form continued as they also took all three points away at Sporting Gijón in their midweek catch-up match, leaving the Mattress Makers six points adrift of Villarreal in the standings.

Tonight, Atlético Madrid return to the Calderón to face Villarreal. Simeone’s side hope to achieve a third straight league win and continue their pursuit of Barcelona.

For Villarreal, this match will be a stern test. They had just battled Napoli in the Europa League midweek, and with key player Dai Zhiwei carrying an injury, their squad is significantly depleted.

Yet, not all news is bad for Villarreal; for this match, Atlético Madrid are missing Tiago, Carrasco, and Augusto Fernández due to injury.

Torres continues to partner Griezmann up front. In the past two games, Torres has found the net for Atlético, showing sharp form.

Atlético Madrid’s starting lineup: Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godín, Filipe Luís; Koke, Gabi, Saúl Ñíguez, Correa; Griezmann, Torres

Villarreal’s starting lineup: Areola; Gaspar, Bonera, Ruiz, Bailly; Rukavina, Bruno, Pina, Castillejo; Bakambu, Dai Zhiwei

“At last, a worthy opponent!” Since joining Villarreal, Dai Zhiwei had only faced mid-table La Liga sides. Even in the Europa League knockout match against Napoli, the opposition seemed lackluster, leaving him with the impression that “there wasn’t a single real challenge.”

But today’s Atlético Madrid are undoubtedly among the elite powerhouses in world football.

It didn’t take long for Atlético Madrid to show Dai Zhiwei the gulf between a top-tier side and the merely strong.

Early in the game, Atlético forced a series of corners and nearly took the lead in the second minute. Gaspar’s clearance ricocheted off an opponent and back into the box. Near the penalty spot, Saúl Ñíguez took too many touches, allowing Bonera to intervene, and his shot was blocked by Areola, who had come off his line.

After that, the home side carved out several more clear chances, leaving the visiting Villarreal side reeling.

Within just five minutes of that previous shot, the Yellow Submarine’s goal was under siege again. First, Ruiz’s headed clearance in the box fell short; Griezmann, from the left edge of the area eighteen meters out, fired a left-footed volley just over the crossbar.

Fortunately for Villarreal, Atlético have never been the most clinical attacking team. Though their play was fast and furious, their finishing was less effective than during their classic counterattacking days. Most of the Yellow Submarine’s scares were less dangerous than they appeared.

In contrast, Atlético’s defense is among the world’s best—especially with Godín at the heart of it, making it hard for Dai Zhiwei to shine.

However, while it is difficult, freezing Dai Zhiwei out for an entire match is nearly impossible.

After all, not everyone is Ethan Hunt as played by Tom Cruise, capable of pulling off the impossible.

Near the end of the first half, Dai Zhiwei once again received a long ball from the back and shielded it from Godín’s challenge.

“A feint at a right angle?” Dai Zhiwei had tried this move twice against Godín before—one success and one failure—so he wasn’t certain he could get past him this time.

But who said Dai Zhiwei only had one trick up his sleeve?

If skill couldn’t fool his opponent, he decided to rely on sheer pace—he would simply sprint past.

With a top speed of 96 and acceleration of 94, Dai Zhiwei had been unmatched in Asian football, and even since coming to La Liga, few could keep up.

He nudged the ball forward and burst into a run. Godín, a fraction too slow, was left trailing at an angle behind him.

But Godín’s experience showed—he tugged lightly at Dai Zhiwei’s shirt, letting go almost immediately. Yet, at full sprint, that slight pull was enough to make Dai Zhiwei stumble and fall.

Villarreal were awarded a free-kick on the left flank.

It was a long way out—around forty meters. Pina lofted the ball into the box, where Ruiz, at the far post, won the header but, with a poor angle, chose to nod it across goal.

Bakambu, lurking in the box, met it with a header from close range, but the ball crashed off the post—Villarreal had squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.

Alas, Dai Zhiwei’s flashes in the first half were only sporadic, reflecting Villarreal’s struggles on the pitch. More often than not, Atlético controlled the game.

On another Atlético attack, Griezmann burst down the wing and squared the ball at the edge of the box. Filipe Luís, slightly left of center, struck a low left-footed shot towards the near post, but the ball curled wide, missing Areola’s goal and the upright.

Atlético’s attacking dominance left Villarreal defending desperately, and they paid the price with fouls and bookings. In the 32nd minute, with Griezmann on another threatening run, a frustrated Rukavina lunged in dangerously with studs showing.

Rukavina was promptly shown a yellow card for his foul on Griezmann, and Atlético were awarded a free-kick in a slightly off-center position.

Griezmann swung in the free-kick from the left. Koke, closely marked by Pina, bravely won the header at the near post, flicking it on cleverly. At the far post, Godín, just eight yards out, met it with a powerful header.

With most of his focus on the near post, Villarreal’s keeper Areola was helpless against Godín’s effort. Luckily for Villarreal, Godín’s header, unmarked from six meters, missed the far post by a whisker, and the Yellow Submarine escaped unscathed.

Five minutes later, Griezmann, attacking down the right, won another free-kick, but Koke’s delivery again sailed high.

For the remainder of the half, both sides traded attacks but created few real chances, and neither could break the deadlock; the match fell into a stalemate.

As the first half ticked into stoppage time, Villarreal made a fatal error during a relatively innocuous Atlético attack—Ruiz’s headed clearance from the box again fell short. Atlético’s right-back Juanfran pounced at the edge of the area, unleashing a left-footed volley that rocketed toward the top left corner.

Bang! Again the post intervened, denying Bakambu earlier and now coming to Villarreal’s rescue as the match’s drama unfolded.

Sighing as he walked back to the tunnel at halftime, Dai Zhiwei shook his head, dissatisfied with his first-half performance.

Even in the dressing room, his brow remained furrowed. Although Godín’s pressure wasn’t much greater than Mascherano’s, and Savic was no match for Piqué, Atlético’s back line was, so far, the strongest he’d ever faced.

He didn’t feel completely suffocated, but rather awkward and stifled, unable to play fluently—a sense of strength wasted.

“What should I do?” Dai Zhiwei pinched his brow, pondering how to break through Atlético’s defense.

But fifteen minutes was too little time, and in the end, all he could do was prepare to improvise.

The second half began with the teams switching ends, but the deadlock persisted, and Villarreal remained on the back foot.

The opening phase replayed the pattern of the first half—Villarreal were hemmed in their own half, under relentless pressure.

Though Dai Zhiwei constantly called for the ball up front, his teammates rarely managed to pass to him; all he could do was drag defenders out of position for his side.