"This is the Glory Stadium in Southampton. Welcome to the final of the 2015-2016 Champions League that we are broadcast live for you."

"The two sides are home teams from the Premier League, Saints Southampton, and visiting teams from La Liga, and Atletico Madrid, both teams have performed the best in European football this season."

"Before the game, the organizer held a brief opening ceremony at the Glory Stadium. We can see that the highly anticipated St. Berede's Cup has been placed at the exit of the player's channel, and the players of both teams are also lined up in the channel and ready to play at any time."

"There are also celebrities in the stands at the Glory Stadium, including FIFA President Infantino, UEFA President Platini, and representatives from the FA, the Premier League and the Spanish Football Association. They all sit in the stands."

"There are also representatives of the British royal family, Prince William and Princess Kate, British Prime Minister Cameron, Spanish King Felipe, Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy..."

"We can see that the players of both teams have already walked out of the player channel under the leadership of the referee."

"We have already got the starting lineup of both teams."

"Southampton's starting lineup is goalkeeper Neuer, on the back line, David Alaba, Nastasic, Varane and Danilo, the three midfielders are Di Maria, Tony Kroos and Pogba, and the front tridents are Hazard, Suarez and Messi."

"The Saints are full of superstars in this game, and all the main players are on the court. More importantly, Southampton won the championship early in the Premier League and won the FA Cup a few days ago, and was in excellent form."

"The starting lineup of Atletico Madrid in this game is also the main force. The goalkeeper is Courtois, the defense is Jose Gaya, Jimenez, Otamendi and Montoya, the midfielder is Ilia Lamendi, the first four midfielders are Isco, Crichoviak, Cork and William, and the single striker is Griezmann."

"This is also the strongest lineup for Atletico Madrid this season, but Simeone's team's style of play is varied this season. Although it is 4141 from the formation chart, in fact, they will transform into 4231, or even 442 according to the situation on the court at any time, and their style of play is elusive."

"However, judging from the starting lineup of this game, Atletico Madrid should still decide to focus on defending at the Glory Stadium."

"After all, this is Southampton's home court, and the Saints are the team with the strongest attack power in Europe. Atletico Madrid's strength is still at a disadvantage. Taking the defensive and planning a counterattack is also a good choice."

...

When everyone got the starting lineup of both sides, the first reaction was that Atletico Madrid had to defend and counterattack.

In this way, the strength of the Bedding Legion is indeed at a disadvantage. If you play against Southampton, you will definitely be seeking death.

As for this, Atletico Madrid's defense is very good. It can even be said that Simeone's team is known for its defense. It has been relatively rough in the early two years. It just played defensive counterattacks, which just played their strengths.

It is not difficult to see from Simeone's single striker who arranged Griezmann, that he really has to play against the counterattack.

But everyone was surprised that when the referee blew the whistle at the beginning of the game and when the fans of the court made deafening cheers, the prelude to the Champions League final, Atletico Madrid actually chose to push forward.

"one two three……"

"My God, Atletico Madrid adopted the front-pressure tactic from the beginning. Six players pressed forward to press and press and press, invested a considerable amount of troops, and it seemed that they were not conservative at all!"

Judging from the game footage, Southampton's ball was passed back all the way, but Atletico Madrid pushed up all the way.

When Nastasic got the ball at the front of the penalty area, Griezmann had even pressed to this area, and the entire midfielder of Atletico Madrid also pressed up.

Nastasic had no choice but to pass the ball to goalkeeper Neuer.

After the German goalkeeper got the ball, he took it outside the penalty area and passed it to Varane who was pulling to the right.

But at this time, Atletico Madrid's oppressive formation had already formed, forcing Varane to pass back again.

In this kind of foot pass through the backcourt, after Atletico Madrid's overall formation was pressed, it was difficult for Southampton to get a ball point, and he had to try a diagonal pass to find Hazard on the left side of the frontcourt.

It was said to be the frontcourt, but in fact, Hazard has retreated to the front of his own half.

Montoya seemed to be ready, and suddenly grabbed the ball and headed it to Hazard to the right. William retreated back to receive the ball, and Atletico Madrid got the ball.

At this time, the competition had just begun less than a minute!

…………

…………

Seeing that the team successfully grabbed the ball from Southampton in less than a minute, Simeone, who was on the sidelines, couldn't help but smile slightly.

He was still very satisfied with the performance of Atletico Madrid players on the court.

At least, in terms of tactical execution, the players completed quite well and snatched the ball in one breath.

But this is just the first step in his opening tactics.

Simeone has high hopes for this game. He wants to be humiliated by losing to Southampton in the Champions League final two years ago. He wants to lead Atletico Madrid to win the Champions League and set a great achievement of the triple-champion title.

Therefore, he prepared quite well in this battle, and even he made clear how the team played and how to deal with Southampton at the beginning of the game.

This group of Atletico Madrid players are definitely not as good as Southampton in terms of personal abilities, but Simeone has absolute confidence in tactical execution.

On the court, after grabbing the ball, Atletico Madrid players still did not retreat, but continued to press down on Southampton's half and pressed the Saints in the half, which surprised everyone.

This is unreasonable, isn't it?

You know, with Southampton's offensive ability, as long as you catch one chance, Atletico Madrid will be finished.

But in Simeone's opinion, this is not a problem.

The reason is very simple. As long as the team's frontcourt pressure and pressing can work, the players' execution is in place, and the pass-and-receive route of Southampton can be cut off, it can curb the Saints' offensive.

In the entire Southampton tactics, the role of two full-backs is very important. They actively push forward and help three midfielders form a five-person cross-operation array, thereby creating an advantage in the field.

However, Atletico Madrid has now invested six players in the frontcourt pressing, and through uniform pressing and oppressing formations and tacit running, a local number advantage is formed, thus suppressing Southampton's pass control.

This is why Atletico Madrid was able to grab the ball from Southampton in less than a minute of the opening game.

Simeonezhori was on the sidelines, his eyes narrowed slightly, staring at the situation on the court, and his heart was very proud.

It has been two years since he prepared for two years to restrain Southampton!

Although the Saints' head coach has changed from Bielsa to Ancelotti, although in the past two years, the Saints have also made progress and improved their tactics, but they will never leave their roots.

Although Ancelotti's team is more balanced, more reasonable and more controllable, in the final analysis, what's in his bones is still inherited from the Bielsa era.

This is not surprising, because in just one year, how could Ancelotti subvert the rigorous tactical system that Bielsa took five years to build?

Grab the ball and slash the saints' sharpness first. This is the first step.

By pressing and oppressing the frontcourt, cutting off the Saints' pass and control line and curbing the Saints' attack, this is the second step.

Then the third step is simple.

Because your two full-backs actively participate in the midfield offense, it is natural that your full-back will naturally leave gaps behind you.

As long as I get a chance, after intercepting the ball in the frontcourt and being able to pass the ball, I will hit behind your two full-backs!

But tactics are tactics, which only exist on paper, but to reflect on the football field, it takes time and some luck.

There is a saying that goes, wealth and honor are in danger, and you can't bear to let your children get trapped in the wolf.

Simeone is confident that his tactics have been practiced repeatedly many times. As soon as the opportunity appears, the players will definitely be able to seize it!

With Atletico Madrid putting heavy troops into operation and the players' physical strength to run and oppress, Southampton's midfield and backcourt shots were curbed, and Messi and Hazard in the frontcourt had to actively retreat to the midfield.

But Atletico Madrid was prepared for a long time. As soon as Messi and Hazard retreated, the two full-backs José Gaya and Montoya would follow the front and follow the two players in a row.

In addition, Atletico Madrid is very clear that they are not as good as the Saints when playing skills, so they actively use aggressive tactics of fouls when defending, but not cards, which makes it difficult for the ball under the Saints to run smoothly.

The ball rights changed hands back and forth between the Saints and Atletico Madrid, and no one could create opportunities.

Until the fourth minute, Atletico Madrid seized a chance.

After Krichoviak intercepted the ball, he quickly handed it to Isco.

After Isco dribbled the ball past the defensive player, he passed the ball diagonally to the right corner of the penalty area.

Although David Alaba had already returned to defend in time when William received the ball, William passed it horizontally to Cork, and Cork directly shot a very high-quality long shot at the front of the penalty area.

Neuer flew over and pushed the ball out of the crossbar, so that he could ensure that the goal was not lost!

But Atletico Madrid's shot made people sweat in a cold sweat this time.

With the stimulation of this wave of attack, Simeone and his bed sheet legion immediately felt like a shark smelling blood. His eyes were red and he began to launch counterattacks to Southampton frequently.

The Saints were under considerable pressure in the middle and backcourt, but they never found an effective way to transfer the ball to the frontcourt.

It can only be said that Atletico Madrid's starting tactics are too targeted, and the players' execution ability is too high.

There is a saying that wise people will make mistakes if they make mistakes.

The Saints were curbed by Atletico Madrid and allowed the game to take place in their own half. Atletico Madrid's sharp counterattack has always been a big problem, and problems will arise sooner or later.

And this problem lies in the eleventh minute.

Southampton wanted to pass the ball to Hazard who was retreating to respond, but Montoya successfully intercepted the ball and quickly handed the ball to Ilia Lamendi.

As soon as the Spanish midfielder got the ball, he did not hesitate at all and directly transferred a long pass, passing the ball towards the right corner flagpole.

After Montoya intercepted the ball, William chose to rush forward immediately. As soon as Ilia La Mendi's ball was passed, he threw away the defensive player and penetrated directly behind him.

The distance between the defense line and the base line was very short, but Ilia La Mendi's pass came to William just right, and the Brazilian player stopped the ball directly.

Nastasic returned to the right side of the penalty area in time, and in the penalty area, Varane followed Griezmann to the front point.

But as soon as William received the ball, facing Nastasic, he accelerated with a simple and practical emergency stop. After throwing away Nastasic one position, he suddenly made a cross.

But this cross was not about finding Griezmann at the front of the goal, but fell to the penalty spot.

Immediately afterwards, Isco rushed up from behind and shot directly without waiting for the ball to land.

Neuer stood on the right side, facing this kick aiming at the bottom left corner of the goal, he was powerless.
Chapter completed!