theScore breaks down the most important developments in the Champions League by dissecting the first legs of the last-16 ties. Here are the biggest takeaways from an entertaining slate of matches.
‘Cholismo’ still reigns at Wanda-era Atleti
“Cholismo” was a word coined to describe the pragmatism and collective grind of Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone. However, as the team added attacking talents like Thomas Lemar and Joao Felix over the last two seasons, Simeone’s approach and the term itself seemed dated and increasingly ill-suited to Atleti. The expensive attack wasn’t producing enough goals and appeared unable to satisfy the organization and conservatism demanded by the Argentine. Cholismo was holding them back.
But then Atleti produced that throwback performance against Liverpool, suffocating their opponents after Saul Niguez‘s early goal and eking a 1-0 win in front of a deafening Wanda Metropolitano crowd. Going to Anfield and keeping Jurgen Klopp’s men at bay for another 90 minutes may be too much of an ask, but Simeone will use the first leg as encouragement that his defense-first tactics have a future in the Lemar, Felix, and Wanda era …read more