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This Saturday Jorge Sampaoli completed 24 games at the helm of Atlético-MG. The team scored in 22 games. The exceptions were a 1-0 loss to Inter in Brasileirão matchday 5 and a goalless draw against Sport. (see offers in the video above). This was even the first 0-0 of the “Sampaoli era” at Gallo – the team only has two more draws with the coach, both 1 to 1. The stumble against León leaves messages and calls out an important alert.
Despite the absolute dominance of possession and the volume of play during the 90 minutes, Atlético had creativity problems. The first clear chances, which really gave goalkeeper Luan Polli work, appeared only in the last five minutes of the first half. Symptoms of a stagnant and uncreative midfield.
The individual performances of athletes working at the intermediate level help to explain. Alan Franco did not do well and Nathan performed very poorly. The owner of the 23 jersey even comes from other irregular performances. Zaracho entered the second half, but the sample is still very short.
Nathan during Atlético-MG 0x0 Sport – Photo: Pedro Souza / Atlético-MG
The team relied heavily on the individuality of Keno, who played, almost all the time, on the inverted side, on the right. Sampaoli explained: He foresaw a double mark on jersey 11 on the left and tried to explore the other side. A valid attempt, but it didn’t have much of an effect. On the other hand, Arana acted as a forward and Savarino more on the inside. The idea? Increase the options, create even more volume. It even happened, but it wasn’t enough. The winger did well and the Venezuelan played regularly.
Keno, for the great “one on one”, is a central figure in the athletic team. Make mistakes or do well, create many opportunities, finish, raise, give work to the markers. Only it won’t solve all the games individually. Against Sport, he created a lot, but he also lost chances. The team needed the other pieces and they didn’t show up.
Keno during Atlético-MG x Sport – Photo: Agência i7 / Mineirão
Finally, it is necessary to highlight an evident lack of the athletic team: the team needs a professional shirt 9. It will not necessarily be the absolute starter, but in games like this, against close rivals, a striker of strength is needed, who annoys and “stops” to the defenders. Eduardo Sasha has prestige with Sampaoli and is a good player, but he is not a scorer and, without the ball, the plays (his strong point) to accommodate his teammates have not been decisive.
Production drop: natural fluctuation?
In the last five days of Brasileirão, Atlético won only one match. There are two draws and two losses. Five points won in 15 disputed. The recent numbers are bad and, more than that, the performance is far from what the team showed in the first 13 rounds. Galo had been an extremely efficient team at home and “boring” (for opponents) outside. In recent games, it was not.
Atlético-MG x Sport in Mineirão – Photo: Agência i7 / Mineirão
In those last setbacks, Atlético suffered goals in the counterattacks, had a production drop in the creative sector and a lot of difficulty in the conclusions. The question remains whether it was a natural (and brief) swing or a more consolidated decline. The next games will provide the answer. And they are good games for that. Duels with Palmeiras (away) and Flamengo (at home), two of the strongest squads in the country, can bring Atlético back into the fight with conviction at the end – or take out their team.
