Goal Analysis: Athletico Madrid vs Barcelona, Villa and Neymar on target!

David Villa scored against former team and the man who replaced him at Barca scored to level the tie after the first leg. Goal Analysis presented.

It was once again the possession-based style of Barcelona against quick-fire counter attacking football of Atletico Mardid. Let us take a look at the goals scored.

Ath. Madrid Starting XI: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Luis Felipe, Koke, Suarez, Gabi, Arda, Costa, Villa

Barcelona Starting XI: Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Alves, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Messi, Sanchez, Pedro

1st Goal: David Villa (12 minutes, assisted by Arda Turan)

Dispossess Barcelona, hit them on the counter-attack and take your chances. This is the manager every manager gives his team before sending them out to face Barcelona. And Diego Simeone did the exact same thing, and most importantly the team did what the doctor had ordered. Crowding out Barca's attacker and snatching the ball from him, they set up on the counter. From the tackle to the goal it was a array of just 5 passes. Compare that to the 50 Barcelona do before getting a shot away. Arda Turan was in the mix of it and beautifully manovered the ball around and a perfect cross was volleyed in by former Barca hitman David Villa. Useless to say that the ace was delighted on scoring against his former club. 

The tackle

The movement

Dani Alves may be the best offensive Right-back in the world but many a times he forgets that his main job is to defend; he is no where to be seen on his flank and nor is he interested in making up the lost ground. The black line shows the midfield and defenders who are already on the back-foot.

The Cross

Look at the black circles, as Dani Alves is not in his position, Javier Mascherano has to go to stop the cross while Alves surprisingly does not even go to cover Mascherano's position. The lad is completely disinterested in defending for the team. Retreating Sergio Busquets is also not close enough to Villa while CB Gerard Pique is also not marking him. 

The Goal! 

Villa puts himself perfectly between the two and volleys a quite superb finish into the bottom corner of the net; no chance for Victor Valdes at all. 

Offensive Brilliance:

Arda Turan with his pin point passes and crosses, David Villa with a most astonishing volley.

Defensive Liabilities:

• Dani Alves; you go up the field; but you have to come back as well.
• Gerard Pique and Segio Busquets: 1 striker to mark, and yet both are way far away from him.

2nd Goal: Junior Neymar (66 minutes; assisted by Dani Alves)

When an ex-man scores against your team and you are the one who has replaced him, extra onus is upon you to show that the club made the right decision. Junior Neymar did the exact same thing by leveling the scores on the night with virtually his first touch of the game. Brilliant sub from Tata Martino and quite a decent header from the next Brazilian sensation.

Doubling up but still men free for Barca

Another thing that happens when playing against Barca is that defensively sides tend to double-up against their players. The black lines here indicate the double teams that are employed to stop the Barca magicians from playing their tiki-taka in and around the box. Well, Barca does not play that style and go from one flank to another with a cross and score with a header; not so typical Barca, not so shabby Barca either. Neymar is marked in the top left of the screen no where near the goal and the passer Alves is setting himself up for the cross in the bottom right corner. The full-back is behind Neymar which gives him free space to run into. As the defenders are very close to each other and have to retreat to get to the ball, they fail and Neymar heads it down and beats Courtois at the near post. Alves makes amends for his defensive liability by providing an inch-perfect cross for Barca to level on the night.

Hard to defend; pin-point accuracy from Alves and Neymar

It was a game from which both the managers should take some positives and be relatively happy. Return leg will be held at Camp Nou and we will bring you detailed goal analysis for that one as well. Till then, Bye- Bye!