Atletico Madrid have cemented their place in the top three in the LaLiga table. Diego Simeone and his men make regular appearances in the UEFA Champions League. A team full of stars from all across the globe is built with a defensive mindset by the manager. They started this season with seven points in the first three games. After the September international break, Atleti suffered a loss against Valencia.
An injury hit midfield is the biggest concern for the manager. Atletico Madrid midfielders play a huge role in their team’s success. These players go in for the ball and win it. This allows the forwards to run towards the opposing goal.
The midfield crisis has allowed Simeone to give opportunities to some of his youngsters, including Pablo Barrios, who has really impressed him. The 20-year-old plays in the heart of the midfield, and here is a look at why he is getting regular game time in the middle of the park.
Breaking the opposition’s play
Pablo Barrios plays as a centre midfielder but has more of a defensive role. His ability to win tackles and duels is what has impressed the coach. Barrios has won 74% of his defensive duels and 100% of his aerial duels. He has been a little indisciplined when it comes to giving away fouls. However, these fouls were not committed in the danger zone.
Last season, he played in 21 league games and won 64.4% of defensive duels and 66.67% of aerial duels contested.
Sitting in the heart of the midfield gives you a chance to make high recoveries. These recoveries are crucial in a match as they give the team the momentum to attack. Barrios has recorded 35 recoveries in the 2023–24 campaign, and 16 were made in the attacking half. These include six counterpresses and two dangerous recoveries.
Distribution
One of the key roles of the midfielder is to move the ball. Pablo Barrios is not a very creative player but has the eye for a pass. This season, he has managed to find a teammate twice in the opposition penalty box.
Last season, the player averaged 48 passes per 90 minutes and had an 84% accuracy rate. The accuracy rate is similar this season as well. By looking at the progressive passes made by the player in 2022–23, we can observe that he tries to spread the play and targets both flanks to find a teammate. Barrios provided one assist last season.
Ideal replacement for the club’s loyal servant?
Koke has been ever-present in Atletico Madrid’s midfield and has played over 400 league games. He is their creative force and is also a set-piece specialist. The above viz compares the stats of both players according to their percentile rank, and the stats are from the previous season. Barrios has edged the veteran in the defensive part but has struggled to match his creativity. This means that Barrios still has a chance to play when Koke is on the team. Both can also link up in some of the matches.
The youngster is growing under Diego Simeone and has impressed many with his defensive work. Barrios will look to cement his place and hope that Simeone gives him more game time than last season.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
