Diego Forlan writes a weekly column for The National, appearing each Friday. The former Manchester United, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid striker has been the top scorer in Europe twice and won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup. Forlan’s column is written with the assistance of European football correspondent Andy Mitten.
One reason for Atletico Madrid's success is the small details. Against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, I noticed that they didn't water the pitch as they did when I played at the Calderon. That meant a stickier surface, a slower game. That helped the home team because it helps defenders.
When a great attack comes up against a great defence, the defence usually comes out on top. It’s easier to stop attempts to find a gap than it is to create them, easier to destroy than build.
The dry pitch meant the attackers needed an extra touch and the defenders had more time to get into position. When the ball was played out wide to Douglas Costa, he had to wait longer than usual to receive it. We’re talking fractions of a second, but at the top level they can make a difference. By the time he got it, Juanfran or Filipe Luis were already onto him. He couldn’t get into a position where he went one on one with opponents.
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Towards the end of the game, Arturo Vidal struck a shot with the inside of his foot. He didn’t hit it well as the ball was not coming as quickly as he is used to. Again, the margins are tiny. It’s similar when you play at altitude. The ball travels at a different speed because the air is thinner. You don’t connect with the ball as you normally would. You start to have a bad game and your confidence begins to slip.
Pep Guardiola knew what to expect with the pitch and chose to train in Munich the day before the game rather than at the Calderon. His side is an excellent one and they dominated the second period as they attempted to equalise. Given the number of chances they created, Bayern were unlucky not to get a draw; I didn't think they were aggressive enough to play a team like Atleti.
They will get a second chance next week in the home leg when I expect a very different game. Bayern will have the pitch wet and slick to suit their fast passing game, the type Guardiola perfected with his Barcelona team.
They will have home support and they have outstanding players throughout their team. They may have lost to Spanish teams in Spain at the semi-final stage in each of the past two seasons, but Guardiola should be credited with reaching that stage three seasons in succession. In addition, his team only have to overcome a one-goal deficit.
It will be hard. It's the semi-final of the Uefa Champions League, the competition with the highest level in world football. Atletico will know that they are going to be under pressure and there is no team as comfortable defending as Diego Simeone's side.
Their defence, including my two compatriots Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, is the best in football. They are organised, confident and aggressive. They don’t let attackers play comfortably. They irritate, they are strong, motivated and they are also technically at a high level. They are dangerous at set pieces and help set up the counter-attacks which Bayern have to be careful of.
They also have to be careful about moments of individual brilliance like what we saw from Saul Niguez on Wednesday. He is a great young player who also defends well and can score with his head. He, like Lionel Messi, likes to get in among players. That faster pitch in Munich can also suit Atletico's attackers, though.
I thought Atletico would miss Thibaut Courtois more than they have done. Jan Oblak again showed why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world on Wednesday, just as he did in the competition last season when they beat Real Madrid at home.
Simeone does that. He gets very talented players and makes them great players. He looks to squeeze every inch from every area he can, including the fans. It is not always pretty, as when the ball was kicked onto the field against Malaga last weekend to stop one of their attacks, but Simeone is a winner. He also gets his players competing with far richer teams and beating them. He is a great manager and I would like to see him reach another Champions League final, ideally against Real Madrid where they will win and get revenge for 2014, but it will be so difficult, especially if Atletico don’t score.
And both semi-final games this week are still incredibly tight going into the second leg. Manchester City will be underdogs in the Bernabeu, where everyone will expect Real Madrid to attack until they are ahead. Much will depend on whether Cristiano Ronaldo plays. Madrid missed him in the first leg, even though they played well and passed the ball around. Gareth Bale is playing well. Casemiro too. Pepe had a strong game and I like Lucas Vazquez and Jese up front.
But they couldn’t win and they needed some of the magic Ronaldo provides. He is the second best footballer in the world for a reason. He earns a lot of money because he is so good; he is also expected to decide matches at the highest level.
He was the key player when Madrid came from behind to knock Wolfsburg out in the quarter-finals. He has everything a footballer could want. He scores goals and assists. He goes past players, takes free-kicks and can shoot from outside the area. He has decided big matches for Manchester United and Real Madrid and he will be expected to do it again, but danger lurks.
My old Atleti strike partner Sergio Aguero will be just as happy exploiting space at the other end of the pitch.
We have another two terrific games to look forward to.
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