England vs Spain: Julen Lopetegui hails 'fantastic' Aritz Aduriz after unlikely run to first team

The 35-year-old Athletic Bilbao striker became Spain's oldest ever goalscorer on Saturday, and Lopetegui is thrilled by his contributions and so will start him against England on Tuesday.

Anyone who watched Spain storm to three consecutive major trophies remembers the cutting edge provided by David Villa and Fernando Torres up front, two players now coming to the end of their decorated careers. But Spain are likely to have a very different profile of centre-forward up front at Wembley on Tuesday night, a man who will be barely known to many English observers.

Aritz Aduriz is 35 years old and will be 36 in February. He is three years older than Torres and 10 months older than Villa. And yet now, in what should be the twilight of his career, he is making an unlikely run into Julen Lopetegui’s first team.

Aduriz has never been especially fast and is certainly not quick now. He is classical bustling Basque striker, in the manner of Julio Salinas, Ismael Urzaiz or Fernando Llorente. Like those three before him, his team is Athletic Bilbao, where he is in his third spell now. Since returning there four years ago he has scored goals at a better rate than he ever has done in his career to date. Aduriz has won the Zarra Trophy, for La Liga’s top Spanish goalscorer, in each of the last two seasons. What is most impressive about his remarkable Indian summer is that he is still improving, improving his La Liga goal tally in each of his last four seasons.

Many late-improving players miss the boat for international recognition but Aduriz has not. He made his international debut at 29 under Vicente del Bosque and was then forgotten about for six years. Del Bosque took him to Euro 2016 but he could not make an impression on a team which was running out of gas. It would have been easy to move on without him under new coach Julen Lopetegui, but he wanted to count on him too.  Aduriz has fired up this Spanish side and on Saturday he became their oldest ever goalscorer when he converted against Macedonia, at 35 years and 275 days.

Aduriz had always wanted to be a skier or a mountain-climber growing up, and was never especially keen on football, but his performances for Athletic and now for the national team have been one of the great stories in Spanish football in recent years. Lopetegui certainly loves him and broke into English for the only time in his press conference at Wembley last night to sing the praises of the veteran striker. “Aduriz is important to the rest of the group,” Lopetegui said, “because he is a fantastic professional.”

More games: friv

Atletico unhappy with Suarez's attitude

Once Filipe Luis had decided to spread the image of his damaged right foot via his social networks, his club were more incensed with Luis Suarez's reaction to that than to the fact he had committed the foul that caused the injury in the first place.

The Uruguayan was unmoved by Luis' on-pitch antics to the disbelief of his compatriot Diego Godin and also while the Brazilian was still on the pitch.

Atletico Madrid are wise enough to understand that such tackles form a part of the game, and indeed Filipe Luis himself metered out a crunching tackle on his former teammate Arda Turan during proceedings.

However, what neither club nor player understand is that instead of apologising, Suarez has been allowed to disrespect his fellow player.

The rojiblancos collectively have eluded the controversy and not one spoke of Juanfran, Gabi, Stefan Savic or Fernando Torres commented on it during the mixed zone interviews after the game.

Behind closed doors, however, they were seething.

What hurts the most is Atleti having suffered three red cards in the last three visits to the Camp Nou, including Filipe himself, whilst everyone turns a blind eye to the repeated indiscretions of Suarez.

In the first leg of last seasons Champions League quarterfinals, he attacked Juanfran without the ball, first swinging a kick and secondly hitting him with his arm.

Theoretically he could've seen red twice for those challenges.

In the return leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderon shortly after, Diego Godin could barely see out of a black eye caused as a result of the elbow from Barcelona's No.9.

Vidic - Liverpool wanted me and I almost signed for Rafa

Nemanja Vidic has revealed how he nearly ended up at Liverpool instead of Manchester United.

The former Old Trafford favourite has spoken of how Rafa Benitez wanted him for the Reds and a deal was almost done.

The centre-back would go on to play 300 times for United, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League under Alex Ferguson after the Scot moved quickly to secure his man in 2006.

Vidic, now 34, retired in January after a spell at Inter Milan and told the September issue of FourFourTwo magazine he is now hoping to move into management.

But he also recalled how his career almost went in a very different path.

Vidic said: “Yes. Rafa Benitez called me and I nearly went there. I was interested in going but my English wasn’t good and I was struggling to communicate.

Rafael Benitez and Alex Ferguson

“Then Manchester United came. Fergie called me at my apartment and said: ‘I watched you play for Serbia against France - I want you here’. United were decisive. Everything was done very quickly, within two days.”

Liverpool became Vidic's nemesis while at Old Trafford, particularly struggling against Fernando Torres's pace, and the big defender was sent off four times against the Reds.

Read the full One-on-One interview with Nemanja Vidic in the September 2016 issue of FourFourTwo

The September 2016 issue of FourFourtwo,

Bruno Soriano: Italy should fear Spain

After finishing as runners up to Croatia in Group D at Euro 2016, Spain face a tough task against Italy in the round of 16, but midfielder Bruno Soriano claims it is the Azzurri who should be worried.

Defeat to the Croats in the final game has made the route to their European Championship title defence a lot tougher for La Roja, having now also been put in the same half of the draw as France, Germany and England.

But the Villarreal man is adamant that Vicente Del Bosque's side should be confident of progressing in a rerun of the last European Championship final.

"Italy should be worried about facing us," he said.

"They are a strong side and we respect them 100%, but if we do things our way, it is they who should be concerned."

Since David Villa and Fernando Torres disappeared from the international scene, Spain have struggled up front, but Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has stepped up, and Bruno hopes he can give some information on some of his club mates.

"Hopefully he can give us some information," he continued.

"You always have to think about the opposition when preparing and to know what to do against them."

After such an impressive campaign in La Liga, Bruno was rewarded with a place in the squad but has not featured much.

"This final is the biggest game of my life" - Fernando Torres

"I knew I was risking everything by coming back here to Atletico, but I knew this group were destined for somthing big and I wanted to be part of it".

Fernando Torres

Atletico Madrid's prodigal son spoke about his incredible journey that has come full circle and lead him along the yellow brick road to Saturday's Champions League final in Milan. He spoke to beIN SPORTS and the player tried to put into words what it would mean to triumph over Real Madrid and make history.

Torres discusses his departure as El Niño, his hero's return and why he thinks "this group is destined to do something momentous".

The return

"I knew I was risking everything by coming back here to Atletico Madrid, a lot of people thought it couldn't get better for me here, but I knew the group I was coming into. I knew this group were destined for somthing big and I wanted to be part of it".

The final in Milan

"This is the most important game of my life, a chance to write a page that has never been written in 113 years of Atlético's history. I have the chance to make my dream come true, a dream I had as a kid, to win this cup with this club".

Memories of Lisbon

"The past can only help you get better, we only think about Milan, which is the present".

El Niño the animated story

Torres was speaking at the launch of his official biography, told in cartoons that animate the biggest moments in a montous career.

Atletico looking to take title race into final weekend

Atletico Madrid travel to La Liga's basement club Levante for the penultimate game of the season on Sunday, looking to keep the pressure on leaders Barcelona.

Los Rojiblancos, fresh from a Champions League semi-final victory over Bayern Munich which set up a meeting with Real Madrid in the final, are level on points with the Blaugrana and only behind on the head-to-head rule.

Real sit one point further back.

They face a side in crisis with Levante six points adrift at the bottom and all but mathematically relegated.

Atleti are in stunning form heading into the match, having won six straight games.

However, despite their ominous position, Levante find themselves in decent form themselves having only lost three of their last six league outings.

Injuries and suspensions

Atletico have a clean bill of health, with the exception of experienced Portuguese midfielder Tiago who is out injured.

Diego Simeone played a weakened side during their 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, but it almost backfired on him, meaning the likes of Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann should return to the starting eleven.

As for Levante, injured fullback Tono, and suspended midfielder Jose Mari are the only players likely to miss out, meaning both sides will be at near full strength for the clash at Estadio Ciutat de Valencia.

History

Atletico won the corresponding fixture 1-0 in January, and overall enjoy a good record over Sunday's opponents.

In 19 meetings, Diego Simeone's side have won eleven, drawn five and lost three.

Player to watch - Saul Niguez

The 21-year-old midfielder has been a bright spark in a great season for the mattress makers, netting seven times.

His superb solo goal in the first leg against Bayern grabbed the world's attention, but Saul has been a vital cog in Simeone's machine all year long.

He could be key in such a pressure cooker environment despite his youth.

In a period of transition for La Roja, Saul's ability on the ball and education in the never say die, tactically organised philosophy of Simeone, makes him one for the future of the Spanish national team.

Fernando Torres: "Benítez is not defensive"

Attending a publicity event for the Jack & Jones clothing company, Fernando Torres spoke to the press about last Sunday's derby at the Vicente Calderón.

Two points dropped: "The feeling is that we missed out on two points in the derby. 

Although I'm not sure if an extra 10 minutes would have been good or bad because they were coming up with some good counterattacks. The point we won keeps us up there and feeling positive. We forced Real Madrid into taking a backwards step".

The penalty: "I didn't take the penalty because that wasn't my job. I would have loved to score my 100th goal in a derby. Every goal is a gift. I never dreamed of reaching 100".

Rafa Benítez: "Benítez isn't defensive. He's a great coach and if he's given some time, the results will come".

On his future as a 'Rojiblanco': "It's no secret I want to stay at Atlético. If that's what they're thinking as well, everything will be easy. I'm where I want to be. My dream is to be able to celebrate winning a trophy as an Atlético player".

Spain: "I get just as excited about the national team as I did the first day. The coach is looking to other players right now and it's not really on my radar. My priority is doing a good job for my club. I don't see much chance of an opportunity there".

Simeone: "It's amazing to have the coach's trust regardless of the results. I have absolute respect for 'El Cholo'".

Jackson Martínez: "There are no concerns about Jackson".

Fernando Torres had no doubts about scoring his penalty

The striker also praised Atletico Madrid's young players, who showed 'great maturity' in the shoot-out

Fernando Torres, one of Atletico's on-target penalty takers in their Champions League win over PSV was very happy to help his side reach the quarter-finals of the competition. 

"We are tired, but now happy and calmer. To be in the next round of the Champions League should make the fans very proud of what we have done."

El Nino said he had no doubts he would score his penalty in the shoot-out.

"I went decisively, because in my head I could only see a goal happening. The team showed personality in the shoot-out, including the young players, who had maturity, because we did it very well, without any misses."

Premier League lacking top players

LONDON – There is no pleasing some people. When Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United were dominating the Premier League, English football was called predictable.

Going into this weekend’s fixtures there was a top five of Arsenal, Leicester City, Manchester City, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. Now, the unpredictable Premier League is hailed as the worst in its 23-year history.

There are, of course, lies, damn lies and statistics and while Spain, unsurprisingly, has the most clubs in the later stages of the Champions League and Europa League — seven — England and Germany are one behind with six, ahead of Italy’s five.

Not too shabby by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, but while the trio fly the English flag in the Champions League, they are far from the forces they were a few years ago.

Between 2005 and 2012 English clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, dominated the tournament. Since then, they have been also-rans to the elite of Spain, Germany and Italy and it will be a similar story this season.

Apart from Mesut Ozil, none of the best players in the world play in the Premier League. It is hard to think of too many, if any, of the second tier of the world’s top players plying their trade in English football, goalkeepers apart. There has usually been a good sprinkling of true superstars in the Premier League — over the past 10 years Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Luis Suarez, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney (at his peak), Fernando Torres, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Michael Ballack and Xabi Alonso have graced the domestic game. The cupboard is worryingly bare these days.

Last February, the Premier League signed a new television deal worth £5 billion per year. These revenues will be distributed fairly evenly among clubs: the champions will receive around £150 million, and the worst performer £99 million.

This will make English football the most lucrative in the world, though the knock-on effect is more likely to be that middle to lower class clubs can afford to sign better players, making the Premier League even more competitive. However Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will still attract the cream of the world’s crop.

A personal view is that this season’s Premier League is a welcome break from the traditional heavyweights slugging it out, with Leicester, Watford and Crystal Palace unexpected challengers at the top end of the table while Tottenham, under Mauricio Pochettino, cannot be ruled out of the title race. The Premier League remains the most exciting in the world, but the best football is played by representatives of Spain, Germany and France.

Tale of two rivals: If Manchester United allows Pep Guardiola to sign with the club, Sir Alex Ferguson called the noisy neighbor, Ed Woodward, the Old Trafford executive vice chairman, may find his job untenable.

That Woodward is running United as a successful, profitable business is not disputed. However, United fans see him as the man who appointed Louis van Gaal and who has overseen five transfer windows which have been, with the odd exception, failures.

While old quotes can always come back to haunt those in football, what Woodward said about van Gaal 18 months ago has inevitably been regurgitated.

“He’s got incredible energy and very importantly he likes attacking football. If you remember the Barcelona team (he managed) in the late 90s, who played incredible, attacking football, and those games we had against them in ’98-99, that’s the kind of football that Manchester United fans love. It’s part of our DNA.”

The belatedly welcome return to an attacking style in an exciting 0-0 draw against Chelsea gave the Dutchman some breathing space. United fans will accept a degree of failure, but not the turgid stuff they have mostly seen in the van Gaal era.

At best, a continuation of the Chelsea performance will keep the supporters happier, but there is a general acceptance that van Gaal must be replaced next summer. Too much has been spent on too little with minimal return.

Despite reports that Guardiola, who will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, is set to join Manchester City, the Catalan has agreed nothing with anybody and is notorious for changing his mind at the 11th hour. His main consideration will not be money. Guardiola is already very rich and whether he joins City, United, PSG or whoever, he will rightly be paid handsomely. Another million here or there won’t make any difference.

Despite City’s seemingly endless supply of transfer funds from its Middle East owner, United is not exactly a pauper, the Glazers having backed van Gaal to the tune of £250 million net.

So if financially there is no significant difference, what would sway Guardiola one way or the other?

He worked with City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano at Barcelona though this may not necessarily be an advantage given that Guardiola has not always found it easy to have a close relationship with executives.

Given that City has the strongest squad in the Premier League, it should be cruising this unpredictable campaign. Without the injured Vincent Kompany the Blues lack a true leader, Yaya Toure, who has been the heartbeat of City in recent seasons, has lost his mojo, while Sergio Aguero is struggling with fitness. Joe Hart, Fernandinho, Bacary Sagna and Kevin de Bruyne have been the Blues’ most consistent players though they have not won an away game in the Premier League for 3½ months (not including Saturday’s match at Watford) and such travel sickness may cost them dearly.

“It’s having enough points to win the title that matters,” was Manuel Pellegrini’s inevitable response to his side’s troubles on the road. The Chilean is not receiving anything like the criticism directed at van Gaal, mainly because the popular view is that Pellegrini will be replaced by Guardiola next summer.

A done deal?

We shall see.

In terms of player personnel there is little to choose between the two Manchester clubs. What United has, and City knows it cannot compete in this respect, is a tradition and history unparalleled in English football. This is what Woodward will surely try to sell to Guardiola; the stumbling block would be the possibility that United will not be in the Champions League next season.

Champions League or not, United fans will expect Woodward to make up for the van Gaal appointment and only the capture of the world’s most wanted coach will appease the Old Trafford faithful.

The anatomy of a Premier League January transfer

The January transfer window is upon us - but is it worth splashing the cash mid-season? We tried to find a method amid the madness.

First things first: you’re (almost certainly) going to pay the odds in January. If you need something, everyone knows it. If opponents know you are in need they will overcharge because selling will in turn leave them short.

Fulham and Leicester are among the teams to break their transfer record in recent years – on Kostas Mitroglou and Andrej Kramaric, respectively – with remarkably poor results. Between them, those two forwards – costing a combined £20 million – have three Premier League goals in a year and a half in England.

Then there was the infamous January of 2011. Liverpool spent £58m on Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez and cashed in £50m when Fernando Torres moved to Chelsea. Suarez eventually became a brilliant signing but took a while to settle; the path from Eredivisie to Premier League is well-trodden and players usually need a while to find their feet.

The fee for Torres was arguably the most outlandish ever and proved to be a terrible misjudgement on Chelsea’s part, while Carroll was signed on the back of his first spell of Premier League form rather than top flight pedigree (more on that below).

£50m proved to be just a little over the odds

Juan Mata, Wilfried Bony, Juan Cuadrado and Chris Samba are just four more overpriced January transfers – who had decidedly mixed success – and could probably have been lured for cheaper in the summer. None had such immediate effect that their hefty winter fees could really be justified.

There are of course some outliers in the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, both of whom were steals for Liverpool but bargains of that calibre are risks that happened to pay off.

Verdict: Be ready to pay over the odds, so only buy if you need to

Age

Essentially, buying too young in January rarely works. The pressure for an immediate impact is often simply too great and even the new-found idea of purchasing and then loaning straight back can end up failing.

Wilfried Zaha signed for Manchester United in January 2013, swiftly lost the support of his adoring Crystal Palace fans for the second half of the season and then failed to make any kind of impression at Old Trafford, instead farmed out to Cardiff on loan. He is now back at Palace probably regretting ever leaving.

Zaha ended up on loan at Cardiff

Kevin De Bruyne moved from Genk to Chelsea in January 2012 before going straight back on loan but has ended up at Manchester City via Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg. Chelsea barely showed any real belief in him.

The sheer level of expectation weighs heavy on youngsters and insufficient time to settle can be problematic. Dele Alli has become a success at Spurs but signing him in January was just to ensured he was tied down. He is a rarity in that he was signed to the Premier League from the lower divisions and has taken to it quickly. Generally, youngsters struggle.

Verdict: If you want to improve the first team, don’t bother with youth in January

Form

Form is temporary; class is permanent, as the adage goes. Nowhere else in football can form be as misleading and deceiving as in the effect it has on fees in the January transfer window.

For example, there is no doubting that Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are both very good players but the fact that Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri now reckons ‘nobody can buy them’ in the winter window because ‘they don’t have the money’ is frankly ridiculous.

Mahrez's form has led to talk of an inflated fee

There would be no sense in Leicester selling their prized assets midway through the season but there is also every chance that neither player will go on to be a consistent performer worth in the region of the £40m fee that has been bandied about.

Similarly, Carroll may have been worth £35m to the Newcastle side for whom he was scoring freely, but he was worth nothing like that to Liverpool. The fact that he was in form affected his price tag.

Harry Kane has been allocated a similar price tag but he is still yet to prove that last season wasn’t just a purple patch. Nothing can disrupt a run of form like the weight of a hefty transfer fee.

Verdict: Beware. Form at one club is no guarantee of class at another.

Experience

It is rare for a player with no experience of life, football and pressure in England to take to the Premier League with ease when joining in January.

Mo Salah, Edin Dzeko, Suarez, Mitroglu and Kramaric are just a few that struggled for the rest of the season after their moves. They grew into their roles with varying success, but the fact remains that it is exceptionally difficult to adapt to both a new team and a new league mid-season.

Cisse fit straight in on Tyneside

The likes of Nikica Jelavic, Papiss Demba Cisse – who scored 13 goals in 14 games in his first six months at St James’ Park – and Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal and Gabriel show that it can be done but the success stories are far less frequent than those who struggle.

Sturridge, Gary Cahill, Darren Bent and Louis Saha, all with Premier League experience, have made recent January moves and had an effect straight away.

Verdict: Premier League experience preferable

Compatibility

Andy Carroll suited Newcastle; he did not suit Liverpool. Wilfried Bony was worth his weight in gold to Swansea; he is only a bit-part player for City. Wilf Zaha was a key Crystal Palace player but wasn’t the right fit at Old Trafford.

Carroll was not suited to Liverpool's style of play

Compatibility will always be a key consideration, but desperation in January can cause clubs to disregard the need for a player that fits their system rather than just looking to sign someone who is thriving at another club.

Verdict: Do your research

Nationality

There is very little in terms of a pattern here. Often English players do well, but there are striking anomalies, while Frenchmen tend to settle well perhaps thanks to a similar climate and a short journey home when they want it, but again that is by no means without exception. South Americans also fare rather well for the most part and eastern Europeans have trouble.

Verdict: Cross your fingers and hope for the best

Daniel Sturridge: an instant hit at Anfield

So, there are a few pointers to take into account when considering your January transfer targets but it is also worth bearing in mind that deals at this time of year are riddled with even more risk than normal.

Signings can provide much-needed reinforcement and depth but there remains a greater possibility than in the summer that players will fall by the wayside. Proceed into January with plenty of caution.

Astana 0-0 Atletico Madrid: Simeone's men held in Kazakhstan

Atletico failed to break down the hosts, meaning they could be overtaken by Benfica at the top of Champions League Group C

Atletico Madrid were held to a surprise 0-0 draw by a spirited Astana side in Tuesday's Champions League clash at the Astana Arena.

Diego Simeone's side held top spot heading into Group C's early kick-off and could have pulled three points ahead of Benfica with victory in Kazakhstan.

Koke struck the woodwork in both halves but Atletico toiled too often in possession against a well-disciplined home side.

Fernando Torres - chasing his 100th Atleti goal - also spurned a good chance and Antoine Griezmann came close in the second half, but Astana held on for a famous point which keeps alive their hopes of at least battling for a Europa League spot by finishing third.

Astana, in their maiden Champions League campaign, now have two points from their four matches following a 2-2 home draw with Galatasary on matchday two.

Tiago came close early on for Atletico with a blocked effort inside the area but Astana, roared on by a vociferous home crowd, denied them any real rhythm in the opening 25 minutes.

Junior Kabananga's scuffed volley from 20 yards forced Jan Oblak into a save but chances were few and far between in the opening half-hour, until Torres stole in behind Evgeny Postnikov following Juanfran's long ball and prodded wide across goal.

Koke looped an effort onto the crossbar with a free-kick just before half-time but Atletico otherwise struggled to find a way past a stubborn home side.

Diego Godin glanced a header straight into Nenad Eric's hands and Tiago dragged a shot wide from 20 yards as Atletico began to turn up the pressure after the interval.

Simeone threw on Jackson Martinez in an effort to break through a robust defensive line but Atletico's build-up play on the synthetic turf was too often laboured or undone by wayward passes.

Griezmann, who had been quiet throughout, fizzed a low shot just wide of the far post after a neat one-two with Koke, before the Spain midfielder almost got lucky with a looped cross from the left that bounced off the top of the bar.

Eric saved down low from Jose Gimenez's header as Atleti began to push further forward as Astana legs grew tired, and the 2013-14 finalists almost snatched the victory with the last kick of the game, as Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco collected Griezmann's cross and shot across goal, only for the goalkeeper to claim well low to his left.

But Astana held on for a famous point and restored some pride following their 4-0 defeat in Madrid on matchday three.

Draws Show Diego Simeone Must Rely More on Atletico Madrid's Varied Attack

Atletico Madrid missed a big chance to move closer to Champions League qualification for the knock-out phase on Tuesday night as they could only manage a 0-0 draw in Kazakhstan against Astana.

With seven points from four games, Atleti now sit in second place in the group—but with tough fixtures away to Benfica and at home toGalatasaray still to come.

Had they taken a win at Astana, only another point would realistically be needed from the last two games to assure progress and first place would still have been an option, but Atleti now need a positive result to keep the Turkish side at bay next time out.

Manager Diego Simeone, unhappy with his team's attacking play on the night, perhaps needs to be more forceful and reliant on his team's versatile methods of attack, rather than playing with a more withdrawn and safety-first XI, which has seen Atletico draw both their last two games when wins should have been taken.

Astana

A midfield quartet of Koke, Saul, Tiago and Gabi—those chosen against Astana—offered plenty of running, closing down, technique on the ball and tactical awareness, but little in the way of capacity to break lines by beating opponents one-on-one or showing a turn of pace to really punish teams on the counter-attack.

It was telling that Atletico's best spell in the game, when more chances were created and real danger came with any frequency, was in the final 20 minutes—once changes had been made and the likes of Oliver Torres and Yannick Carrasco entered as substitutes.

There was no real need to go with all four quite similar options in the middle line; sure, Saul deserved a run-out, and this was probably an ideal time to bring him in, but he could have either replaced Koke as the flank-to-infield option or else Simeone could have rested one of his starting veteran central midfielders.

Astana didn't have any trouble in repelling the slow, methodical build-up those four supplied, and the front two of Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres—later replaced by Jackson Martinez—lacked support or runners beyond them.

Carrasco, Oliver

Belgian winger Carrasco, so effective against Valencia and also impressive in the first half against Deportivo La Coruna on Friday, was the catalyst for Atleti's improvement and he twice went close to scoring, but the Spanish side simply didn't create enough clear openings.

Per Marca, Simeone was critical of a lack of invention in the final third:

We carved out three or four good goalscoring chances which we failed to put away. But no blame. 

We obviously have to be better going forward. We need to be surer of ourselves in the final third.

I told the lads the same, that we're doing well and that whoever loses their nerve, loses the game.

That has to go down, at least in part, to his decisions, though; not only was it this game which saw a lack of chances created until Carrascoand Oliver came on to reshape the midfield alignment, but also the second half against Depor.

Having dominated entirely in the Liga match on Friday night, Simeonetook off Carrasco and Martinez and replaced them with Angel Correaand Saul, lessening the impact in the final third by both numbers and direct running.

Depor's equaliser might have been a freak incident after JosemaGimenez's mistake, but the change from an offensive pattern of play still led to the increased pressure Atleti came under in the second half.

Two from Five

Atleti's usual 4-4-2 has mainly seen Griezmann paired up with either of Jackson or Fernando Torres from the start, with the other inevitably used as substitute this term.

Both have had their moments of form and Correa has also briefly begun to shine. Luciano Vietto also awaits his first big impact, having struggled for game time due to a poor start to the season and a recent illness.

With so many offensive options, Simeone has to begin focusing on killing off matches earlier on by using the huge armoury at his disposal.

Of course, Atleti have to decide to shut up shop from time to time—and as good as they usually are in defence, why wouldn't they back themselves to do so?

Against these significantly lesser opponents, though, the focus should very much be on getting the win wrapped up, and then making alterations to improve the balance and defensive nature of the team.

Atletico can challenge the very best on a game-to-game basis, but with the talent and value of his final-third players ready to be unleashed,Simeone must start ensuring the team see off opponents with greater consistency to have a chance of landing the biggest prizes.