Atletico Madrid's tactics are 442 double triangle stranglehold and defensive counterattack tactics.

Southampton's tactics today are also 442 defensive counterattack tactics.

This was Coach Adkins' first intercontinental game in his life, and it was an away game, so Coach Adkins was very conservative at the beginning.

However, Simeone is clearly more conservative than Coach Adkins.

Because this is also the first time Simeone has led the team to the Europa League.

So at the beginning, both teams seemed to be polite to each other, trying hard to control the ball, passing it back and forth, and observing the opponent's positioning and running.

In the first ten minutes of the game, neither side had any decent offense, but instead had several very exciting defensive plays.

First, in the 3rd minute, Diego Costa took the ball and broke through the middle, but was intercepted by Gu Ran and Mikel, both defensive midfielders. Then, in the 7th minute, Lallana received the pass from Gu Ran and made a straight run, but before he could pass the ball to Sturridge, he was blocked by Atletico's double triangle.

Because both teams were born into the defensive counterattack style, the coaches of both teams were afraid that if their offense failed, it would leave gaps for the opponent to seize the opportunity, so both teams did not have any good offense in the early stage of the first half.

Simeone never pursues a good-looking process.

So did Adkins.

The fans at the scene were almost depressed.

These two teams were just like the legendary martial arts masters fighting each other. Everyone came in a hurry, wanting to see the passionate clash between the two masters, but in the end, the two masters just made Tai Chi gestures, protecting their own vital points, and circling on the court.

Some impatient fans started booing.

Simeone is in no hurry anyway.

Coach Adkins is even less anxious.

There are 6 group matches to be played. A 0:0 draw against Atletico Madrid away is acceptable. What's more, with Gu Ran and so many young players with fresh blood, they can first wear down Atletico Madrid's physical strength. In the final stage of the game, Southampton still has a great chance of winning.

Players from both sides were engaging in various strangulations and counter-strangulations on the court.

Southampton's focus of passing the ball is on the flanks, and breakthroughs are also made from the flanks. Even if Gu Ran gets the ball from the middle, he will run with the ball to the flanks to break through, attract firepower, and thus pull Atletico's formation.

However, Atletico Madrid always followed Simeone's requirements. The two full-backs retreated to form a double triangle in the midfield and backcourt, allowing Southampton to break through the flanks at will, but not giving Southampton the opportunity to pass the ball easily.

When the attack and defense were in different positions, Atletico Madrid did not attack from the flanks, but flattened the double triangle, using the defensive midfielder to directly connect with the forward, forcibly attacking Southampton's center, forcing Southampton to play high pressure to consume physical energy.

As the saying goes, the layman watches the excitement, while the expert watches the details.

When an outsider judges whether a game is good or not, they only see whether it is exciting or not, but when an insider judges whether a game is good or not, they see the tactical game and control of details between the two teams.

The young players of Southampton are still a little impatient.

In the 23rd minute, left winger Chamberlain found an opportunity and broke through the wing continuously - this was Chamberlain's fifth breakthrough on the wing in this game. Although Chamberlain is very fast and has a strong ability to break through defenses on the wing, to be honest, the reason why Chamberlain was able to break through so smoothly many times is also related to Atletico's contracted defense.

Atletico's tactic is for the ball holder to come in from the backcourt at home, and then strangle you in a three-dimensional double triangle.

As soon as Chamberlain went down the field, he was trapped in a double triangle, unable to break into the penalty area or pass the ball back.

Southampton's tactical requirement in the first half was to defend and not leave any loopholes for Atletico Madrid, so when Chamberlain sprinted on the wing, Southampton only had forward Sturridge rushing into the penalty area to support him. Gu Ran also sprinted from the defensive midfielder position to the attacking midfielder position in an instant, level with Lallana and Salah, ready to move forward to support him at any time.

If Chamberlain could break through with his own ability, or pass the ball to Sturridge, then Gu Ran, Lallana and Salah would definitely rush forward and launch an attack at the first time.

However, if Gu Ran led people to rescue Chamberlain without waiting for him to break out of the siege, it would be obvious that Atletico would "surround and attack the reinforcements", resulting in a local melee. At this time, if Chamberlain lost the ball, Atletico's midfielder could make a long pass across the melee area and directly give it to Fran or Aguero.

But this time it seems that Chamberlain has a good chance.

Sturridge had already rushed in to receive the ball, and Salah immediately filled the position in the middle of the penalty area to receive the ball.

As Salah moved, Lallana also moved, and Lallana went directly to Sturridge's side to support.

Only Gu Ran did not rush into the double triangle stranglehold in a hurry.

At this moment, Chamberlain's turn pass was intercepted! Seeing this, Gu Ran immediately rushed up to intercept Diego Costa.

However, Atletico Madrid's double triangle stranglehold is not only able to strangle, but can also form two lines of defense on the spot.

Before Gu Ran could get close to Diego Costa, Diego Costa made a precise pass to Fran near the center line! Mikel and Henderson quickly intercepted Fran, but Fran easily got rid of Henderson and passed the ball to Aguero who was running forward before Mikel rushed over! Atletico's counterattack came too fast!

Southampton had been carefully defending the center for most of the game, but it was broken in a flash!

At this time, it was too late for Gu Ran to retreat and chase Aguero. Even if he burst out at full speed, it would still be too late.

Southampton can only rely on their last line of defense.

Rudiger and Luke Shaw came up to double-team Aguero, while Jaidi and Van Dijk blocked Aguero's breakthrough route and shooting angle in the penalty area respectively.

However, Aguero during this period was simply the son of God.

Or, to be more precise, Maradona's hand is the hand of God, so Maradona is the God of football, Aguero is Maradona's son-in-law, and they have not divorced yet, so Aguero is half son of God.

Southampton’s defense is well-tested, but it has only been tested by English teams and has never been tested by God’s half son.

Aguero swayed left and right, easily shaking off the young and inexperienced Rudiger, then used his body to fight off Luke Shaw, dribbled the ball to the right side of the penalty area, and in a very short time, he created a gap for shooting! Aguero kicked the ball directly! ... (End of this chapter)