Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are known
for their tough defensive play
and well-drilled style that makes them notoriously difficult to beat.
With its emphasis on strict organisation,
tireless running and unrelenting commitment, Los Rojiblancos
have boasted one of the meanest defences in world football
for almost a decade.
Simeone has guided the team to a La Liga title, a
Copa del Rey trophy, two Europa League wins
and two Champions League finals.
And employing the Argentinian's combative approach can yield plenty of success
on FIFA 20 too. Strap in for our guide on how to replicate Simeone's
signature style without just parking the bus.
Simeone's Atletico typically play in a 4-4-2 formation, using two banks of
four to keep things tight in front of the goalkeeper.
The central midfielders' primary role is to provide protection
for the defence by closing down opponents
so the back four can maintain their line
and focus on dealing with aerial threats.
A narrow setup brings the wide players inside, congesting the midfield
further and making it difficult
for opponents to play through the centre of the pitch
and break them down. This approach forces the opposition out
wide, and with Atletico's aerial prowess in defence,
they can clear crosses into the box all day long.
Given how tough it can be to score from headers on FIFA 20 anyway,
this can make for a particularly effective tactic in game.
Set the team to a 4-4-2 holding formation,
which reduces the space your opponent has between the lines and
keeps your central midfielders close to your centre-backs.
Swap Saul's and Koke's positions,
so the former is in central midfield and the latter is on the left.
Saul is slightly better at defending,
so he'll give your back line more protection,
while Koke's delivery and dribbling make him more effective out wide.
Set the defensive style to pressure on heavy touch.
Simeone's method adopts a measured approach
to pressing that minimises the risk of being caught out of position.
So this is the style that best reflects that in game.
A defensive width of three bars will keep things
narrow, while a depth of two bars will make sure getting in behind your defence is unlikely.
Atletico often attack from out wide,
though, so set offensive width to seven bars, with players in the box set to five bars
and the offensive style set to balanced.
Getting your player instructions right is vital to
replicating Simeone's approach. If you're using Atletico themselves, set
Jan Oblak to come for crosses.
There's arguably no better keeper in world football
when it comes to commanding his area,
and in FIFA 20 his handling stat of 92 perfectly reflects that.
Much of Atleti's attacking width comes from their full-backs.
Juanfran and Filipe Luis were a constant outlet
on either flank during their time in the Spanish capital.
So to replicate their impact, set your full-backs to join the attack with overlapping runs.
The central midfielders should be set to cover the centre
and cut passing lanes, which will ensure they stay in the right area
and prevent passes through the lines.
The more defensive of the two should be "stay back
while attacking." The other, instructed to go forward to support the attacks.
Both wide players should be set to come back
when defending to help maintain your defensive structure.
Koke should cut inside to give an extra option in the centre
and look to get into the box for crosses.
Angel Correa has the pace to get in behind defences,
so instruct him to do so.
Up front, Simeone often has an attacker drop back to prevent his
side for being overrun in midfield
while the other stays forward ready to hit opponents on the counter.
Alvaro Morata can provide a focal point by staying forward
and central, but set Joao Felix to drop back defensively
so he assists the midfield. Felix is also a touch quicker
than the Spaniard, who is also well suited to
getting in behind with his attacking runs.
With your team all set up,
it's time to execute Simeone's approach in game. Given the defensive setup
and how deep your team will be sitting, be prepared
for your opponent to control most of the possession
while you wait to pounce on a loose ball. Maintaining your structure is key.
So when opponents are advancing through the centre, use your midfielders to
close them down rather than your defenders. That will
ensure your back line remains in position, keeping a barrier between your opponents
and your goal at all times. AI defending has long been an issue on FIFA.
This is the act of hunting the ball with your midfielders
and leaving the defence to be controlled by the computer.
But Simeone's style plays into this.
When opponents attempt to hit you on the flank, look to isolate their
wingers with a combination of your full-back, wide midfielder
and striker tracking back. Regaining possession
in those areas is often ideal
for launching counters. In the final third, Simeone's team often
look to attack from out wide, with the full-backs
and wingers aiming to release their forwards.
When you push up on the counter, stretch teams by moving the ball out to the wing
before quickly working it inside to the forwards on the
floor or with a switch play to your full-back on the opposite flank.
If your opponent shows you outside, getting to the byline
and cutting the ball back into the path of your advancing central
midfielder can also be an effective route to goal.
Replicating Simeone's Atletico Madrid requires discipline
and the ability to hold your nerve
when opponents put you under pressure. If all goes to plan, you
won't be playing in many high-scoring games,
but it's a rewarding style to master and frustrating for your opponents to play against.
