Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel key if Dortmund are to excel against Atletico Madrid

Sooraj Kamath - Writer 02:05 24/10/2018
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  • Axel Witsel

    Among a host of mouth-watering fixtures in the Champions League this week, a dangerous Borussia Dortmund host a composed Atletico Madrid. The teams have won both of their games so far and the winner of Wednesday’s clash can potentially decide the group victors.

    Dortmund can boast an unbeaten record in all competitions so far this season and will be looking to add Atletico to their long list of victims. However, though Diego Simeone’s men started slow in La Liga, they have picked up some speed since their 2-0 victory against Getafe in September.

    The German side storm into the fixture after a 4-0 win against Stuttgart and start as favourites against the Los Colchoneros, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal over the weekend.

    Here, we take a look at the tactics the managers might employ in this crucial fixture.

    Dortmund’s famed double pivot

    Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney will be key for Dortmund

    Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney will be key for Dortmund

    Lucien Favre has changed the footballing identity at Dortmund. The German side now recognise themselves in a possession-based system with patient build-up followed by a quick burst in attacking transitions.

    New signings Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney have been a crucial part of their transition to the new style. The pair tuck themselves between the opponents’ midfield and attacking lines and aid in playing the ball out from the back. It’s unlikely that there will be changes to this winning combination against Atletico.

    The experienced duo will come in handy during quick transitions should the German side launch counters, which has been the essence of their style of play. However, the battle isn’t won on paper and Atletico’s midfield is more than capable of dealing with Dortmund’s mid-block.

    The attacking firepower

    Marco Reus

    Marco Reus

    The individual and collective brilliance in Dortmund’s attacking quartet is immense. The versatility of the players makes it harder to predict how they will line up. Paco Alcacer will be spearheading the attack, with Jacob Bruun Larsen, Marco Reus and Jadon Sancho supplying ammunition from behind.

    Spain international Alcacer has been in phenomenal form and the Rojiblancos are a familiar foe to him from his time in La Liga. However, Paco has not yet tested himself against a defensive pair as solid as Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez. Behind this line rests one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Jan Oblak, so the 25-year-old won’t have it easy.

    No player in the top five European leagues has more assists than Dortmund’s wonderkid Jadon Sancho. The 18-year-old has formed a good rapport with Reus and the duo will look to break Atletico’s compact lines with the creative play that they have exhibited in the Bundesliga.

    Rodri the puppetmaster   

    Rodri's role as a puppet-master

    Rodri’s role as a puppet-master

    Spain have experienced a stroke of serendipity in 22-year-old Rodri, who seems set to join the country’s long list of illustrious central midfielders. He’s only kicked on since moving from Villarreal to Atletico over the summer, and he will be extremely crucial if the midfield is to overcome Dortmund’s mid-block.

    Rodri’s style of play has been compared to that of Sergio Busquets and it’s no secret how instrumental the latter is in cutting lines whenever he dons the Blaugrana colours. Rodri will have to play the puppet-master role in the battle for midfield dominance.

    Saul Niguez provides able support to the 22-year-old with his relentless, direct style, while Griezmann will drop deep to create. Atletico can expose certain cracks in Borussia‘s defence, which concedes too many scoring opportunities. The German side have conceded five goals in their last three Bundesliga games – despite their shutout of Stuttgart.

    Deep defending

    Jose Gimenez, Jan Oblak and Diego Godin can frustrate any attack

    Jose Gimenez, Jan Oblak and Diego Godin can frustrate any attack

    Atletico have one of the best defences in the world – but it’s not just central pairing Godin and Gimenez. In-form left-back Lucas Hernandez might even prove to be the key player in this fixture if he can get a handle on Sancho, and many of the game’s elite attackers have drawn a blank against Oblak.

    The Rojiblancos are capable of absorbing immense pressure as they defend deep with extremely narrow lines in their 4-4-2 formation.

    Dortmund are best against stretched opposition and will face problems as they try to unlock Atletico’s compact defence.

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