Diego Simeone showcases new tricks to inspire Atletico Madrid as Real Madrid and Barcelona falter

The Argentine is changing games with his substitutes after a thrilling comeback win vs Eibar to move top of La Liga

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone’s reputation as a motivator and organiser is well known, but an ability to change a game with substitutions and tactical tweaks has seen his team take early control of the La Liga table.

Simeone’s not always immediately obvious replacements and reorganisations worked again this weekend, as his team came from two goals down at home to Eibar to win 3-2 and take advantage of more points dropped by stumbling title rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Atletico’s success during El Cholo’s seven and a half years as coach has usually been based around his team’s aggression and intensity – and even with so many comings and goings this summer there was a familiarity to the scoreline as they edged their first two games this season 1-0.

There was however nothing too recognizable about Atletico on Sunday at the Wanda Metropolitano. An intrepid Eibar side raced into a 2-0 lead inside 19 minutes, with the left side of Simeone’s new-look defence quite easily cut open and Charles Diaz and Arbitz Arbilla taking advantage.

The famous aggression and intensity was missing as Eibar at times dominated proceedings with some long spells of possession. Although Atletico did get one back by half-time, as Diego Costa showed power and awareness to get in behind the defence and square for new Portuguese sensation Joao Felix to tap home his first [of many] La Liga goals.

Simeone made his first change at the break, withdrawing holding midfielder Marcos Llorente and sending on winger Vitolo. That move did not take long to pay off as Vitolo ran onto left-back Renan Lodi’s weighted pass and poked past visiting goalkeeper Marko Dimitrovic.

Atletico kept pushing and twice the Wanda thought that Costa had got in behind Eibar’s notoriously high defensive line to slot home a winning goal, but they were twice disappointed after long VAR waits to confirm offside flags.

With nerves getting increasingly frayed around the stadium, there was puzzlement when Simeone’s second substitute was to give youth teamer Rodrigo Riquelme a La Liga debut in place of €80 million France international Thomas Lemar. Riquelme, 19, is a talented playmaker, but made little apparent impact as Eibar appeared set to hold out for a third successive draw at the Wanda.

Then came the strangest switch of all. With six minutes of normal time remaining, Simeone withdrew the rojiblanco faithful’s new favourite Joao Felix. The €126 million teenager had not been too involved as Atletico played very direct through the second half, but there was still general bewilderment at taking off someone of such quality. Especially as the replacement was midfielder Thomas Partey, meaning that Atletico were going all out for a late winner with Costa their one recognised forward on the pitch.

But with the 90 minutes already up Ghana international Thomas took advantage of a couple of fortunate ricochets and broke into the box to slam home the winner. Cue delirium around the stadium and one of Simeone’s trademark manic celebratory dashes into the ample arms of his assistant German Burgos, before he pumped his fists to the stands and roared to the heavens.

Atletico Madrid celebrate their late winner vs Eibar (Getty)

The Argentine had calmed down by his post-match news conference, when the first question asked whether he felt “so loved, so great” by the Atletico fans but was answered with an explanation of his substitutions.

“No, because I know the risks you take when you make these type of changes,” Simeone said. “It is easy for people to say you made a defensive change, and maybe lost the game. But we always live with that risk, on a fine line, and you have to do what you feel. Joao looked tired, and I knew Thomas had strength coming from deep. The three players who entered brought a radical change to the game. It’s not the first time, it happened at Leganes too, when the changes also improved the team. A change which looked defensive to some, became positive for others.”

The reference to last week’s game at Leganes was apt. Atletico started at Butarque with three centre-backs, but Simeone ditched that on the hour mark, with Vitolo also the first player introduced. 10 minutes later the Canary Islander hit the winner, and Atletico then switched again to finish the game with a five man defence and see out victory in a hard-fought local derby.

Such tactical flexibility has helped a lot as Atletico are now the only team with three wins from three through the early weeks of La Liga, and sit top on their own, two points clear of Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla. It’s the first time they have been in this position since October 2016, when just five of the 14 players used on Sunday were at the club.

Diego Simeone has inspired Atletico Madrid to the top of La Liga (Getty)

Atletico are already five points ahead of Barca – who have not been so far off the top after three games since 1946-47. Substitutions from blaugrana coach Ernesto Valverde also appeared to have brought a comeback win for his team at Osasuna on Saturday, when a 0-1 half-time scoreline was turned around by 16 year old substitute Ansi Fati’s flying header and fellow replacement Arthur Melo’s neat curler.

But a late Gerard Pique handball was punished by Roberto Torres’ penalty and 2-2 was a fair result. With talisman Lionel Messi so obviously missing, Barca have just one point from their two away fixtures so far, and have conceded the first and last goals in each of their three games.

Real Madrid have also stumbled through their opening fixtures. Blancos coach Zinedine Zidane started new signings Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy at Villarreal on Sunday evening, but his team were reliant on two equalisers from back in favour Gareth Bale – the second a superb solo effort – to get a 2-2 draw.

Bale added to the drama by picking up two late yellow cards, while attention around the Bernabeu now turns to whether president Florentino Perez will make a big splash before Spain’s transfer window shuts on Monday night.

Gareth Bale is back in favour at Real Madrid (AFP/Getty)

Atletico got their business done early this summer, and Simeone’s squad now has more depth and further options than in previous seasons. Victories against Getafe, Leganes and Eibar are maybe to be expected, but so far at least it looks possible that the old toughness and character can be married to more flair in attack and tactical flexibility.

The last time Atletico won their first three games was 2013/14, when they took advantage of below par years from both Barca and Madrid to win their only La Liga title of the last two decades.

“That year we had a lot more men in the team – David Villa, Raul Garcia, Tiago, Gabi,” Simeone said on Sunday night when reminded of this stat. “We are much younger this year – Thomas, Joao, Lemar, [Mario] Hermoso, Lodi. We need to build now another team. We have lots of kids who must adapt to what we need from them, which is to win, win, and win again, which is not easy. Today we began with three new defenders [Hermoso, Lodi and Kieran Trippier]. It is not easy for eight to leave, eight to come in, and for the team to compete. But the players are adapting and are motivated. We must be relaxed as this will be very long. We need to think each game is a final, there is no other way.”