Team Focus: Barca & Atletico Dealt Untimely Injury Blows

One game. Two Injuries. A lot of selection dilemmas ahead. The enforced withdrawals of Gerard Piqué and Diego Costa in Tuesday evening’s draw between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid could not have come at a worse time for their respective clubs, who both still harness ambitions of Champions League and La Liga success. Barça, too, will attempt to get one over great rivals Real Madrid when they face-off in the Copa Del Rey in mid-April.

So what exactly are the repercussions of both injuries?

No Costa, not such a great party for Atleti…

Diego Costa’s injury is arguably more significant and bears a greater impact on his team than Piqué’s does for Barça, especially when you consider that so much of Atleti’s system is based around the work the striker does without the ball. One of the many fantastic traits of Diego Simeone’s playing style at the club is the industrious effort of his players when out of possession, with no one allowed to get an easy ride.

Atleti have only come as far as they have on the back of determination, drive and sheer willpower. The forward is an aggressive presence in attack, shutting down defenders and aiming to put pressure on the ball. That intensity filters through to other areas of the team. Few chase lost causes and dead ends down better than Costa, who combines power, pace and a strong winning mentality to drive his game on.

Even in the moments after Costa’s withdrawal from the proceedings at Camp Nou, there was a visible reduction in Atleti’s attacking verve. The team automatically dropped some 25-30 yards and showed nothing of its attacking potential, instead regressing deep and allowing Barça to regain the ascendancy that Atleti had taken in the initial stages.

Costa’s 25-goal haul in La Liga this season represents a direct contribution of 36% of Atleti’s goals, the second most of any player in Spain’s top flight. His 3.3 shots on goal per game are the most at Atleti, while only Koke has made more key passes than Costa’s 1.3 per game. Proof, as if it were needed, that the recently nationalised Spaniard is vital on the ball as well as off it.

Atleti’s squad is, although very motivated and well prepared by Simeone, beginning to look thin, especially in the attacking department. David Villa can hardly batter and bruise defences like he used to, and although there is a refined intelligence about his movement and positioning, he can’t stretch defences like he once could, nor like Costa often does.

Villa’s goal tally of 13 in La Liga is a decent amount by all means and he still has the ability to produce a moment of brilliance but neither time, nor Atleti’s approach, is on his side. It might well be that the tandem offence of Villa and Raúl García is Simeone’s solution. The attacking midfielder was suspended for the first leg but will now return to the side, and his presence could be vital during Costa’s absence.

García has managed seven goals in a total of 27 appearances, though only 13 have been starts, in La Liga. His impact and ability to utilise the space created by Atleti’s endeavour in the final third is extremely vital, and a roaming role could well facilitate for Costa’s loss.

Simeone has often used Cristian ‘Cebolla’ Rodríguez in attack, but like other candidates such as José Sosa his abilities look best utilised in an impact role from the bench. Simeone, an expert of getting that little bit extra out of his team, will need to find more in reserve to make up for this bitter loss.

Piqué hardly peerless, but permutations exist…

For Barça the problem is perhaps less severe but still grave given the lack of cover in this particular area of the squad. Coupled with Víctor Valdés’ injury, Piqué’s absence also takes away a degree of familiarity in the backline in what will be a draining and important run-in. Off the field too, it will further increase questions as to why both Thiago Silva and Marquinhos were allowed to move on to PSG without much of a fight from Barça’s evidently flawed board.

Piqué’s still a strong presence in a backline that has proved to be the second best in La Liga this term, falling short only of leaders Atleti, as his fourth highest overall rating amongst Barça’s squad shows. His 5.5 clearances per game are the second most at the club, and first when only considering players to have made five or more appearances. While there can be a lethargy to his games at times, he does know how to clear the danger.

As the covering centre-back, Javier Mascherano has been a competent presence in the Barça backline, but there is a need for someone soothing away from the Argentinean’s more energetic, high intensity approach. That’s where Marc Bartra comes in, and fortunately for Barça he did so superbly following Piqué’s injury. The 23-year-old’s anticipation levels were astute as ever, as he intercepted on 1 occasion, made 3 effective clearances from a possible 3 and completed 3 tackles.

Barça have a ready-made solution to Piqué’s absence, and if anything Bartra should’ve been afforded more minutes this term. He’s not put a foot wrong when called upon, and his 7.37 rating in La Liga this term is more than respectable. Bartra’s made 2.7 tackles per game this season, dwarfing Piqué’s 2, while the youngster’s 2.7 interceptions per game is the highest average in this column at the club of any player. He will need to improve in the air however, perhaps providing a stronger presence than he has thus far, and show strength before attackers take advantage of him. Piqué, for instance, has shown dominance in the air, winning 3.8 aerial duels per game compared to Bartra’s 1.9.

For Barça the picture is certainly brighter than that at Atleti, but they must be wary of that unfamiliarity at the back. With Valdés injured, Puyol at the end of his career and Piqué now sidelined too, they could be exposed by their reliance on Dani Alves to throw more weight behind his attacking duties than defending. The pressure is firmly on what’s left of Barça’s defence. Buckle under the weight of it and the potential array of trophies before their eyes could disappear.

Which team is better equipped to deal with the injuries blows suffered in midweek? Let us know in the comments below