Gameiro Capture Highlights Atletico's Offensive Evolution
The tug of war between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla over the course of the summer transfer window has been one of the bigger sagas in La Liga of recent memory. Finally, after Kevin Gameiro was strangely selected to start Los Nervionses’ pre-season friendly against Mainz, the ex-Lorient striker made the move to the capital that many were anticipating, with young Argentine Luciano Vietto heading the other way on loan.
Last season was one of unprecedented success for the France international, with 16 goals in 22 La Liga starts somehow not enough to earn himself a spot in Didier Deschamps’ squad for Euro 2016, where he could have struck up some chemistry with compatriot and future team-mate Antoine Griezmann on the international stage.
In many ways, the two can be considered similar, with the pair both mobile and diminutive forwards who can be a real threat when released in behind stretched enemy lines, but Griezmann’s performances on France’s route to the final in his home country suggests that Gameiro can be tasked with leading the line, while the ex-Real Sociedad star scurries about in possession of the ball between opposition lines trying to make things happen. The former PSG striker is not necessarily one for the intricate side of the game, as highlighted by his 0.6 dribbles per match in the Spanish top flight last season, but an average of 2.3 shots per game shows that he is more than capable of putting himself in areas from which he can try his luck.
His La Liga scoring record has been stellar, but Gameiro has also showed that he can score goals in other competitions too, as the Frenchman netted eight goals en route to yet another Europa League title under ex-coach Unai Emery. His form was enough to command a price €32m from Atletico, with Diego Simeone’s club also throwing in an additional €5m in variables to get their marquee man. While Gameiro undoubtedly offers goals and a mobile presence to get in behind any high lines that Atletico come across during the coming campaign, making him a real asset for the counter-attacking set-up situationally deployed by Simeone, the Frenchman’s arrival offers tactical flexibility in abundance.
Simeone has been known to play with a 4-4-2 formation, which could leave Gameiro to lead the line, while Griezmann drops slightly deeper to link midfield and attack, but the former's introduction can easily allow for Los Colchoneros to tinker with a 4-3-3 that would see Griezmann, Yannick Carrasco, Nicolas Gaitan and Angel Correa free to drift in from the flanks to accommodate supporting overlapping runs from deep by full-backs Filipe Luis, Juanfran and new signing Sime Vrsaljko.
Griezmann offered up statistics of 2.4 key passes per La Liga game last campaign, with the former Sociedad man looking to be the perfect counter-part for a striking duo that would highlight Simeone’s gradual footballing evolution of Atleti. While a physical presence of Diego Costa, Mario Mandzukic or Raul Jimenez may have been preferred in the past by the Argentine tactician, recent months have highlighted that Atleti’s transfer business has allowed them to morph into a free-flowing side that is willing to open up as a more fluid proposition if the situation allows it. The Frenchman offers pace and athleticism up top, with the eye for goal required to attempt to close the gap between Atleti’s goal difference and the consistently rosier goals scored statistics of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
While Mandzukic, Costa and Jimenez have gone on to pastures new, Simeone knows exactly what he is getting from his newest acquisition. Gameiro managed to get off 1.6 shots per match last season in the Spanish top flight from inside the penalty area, attempting a contrasting 0.2 from outside the box. The leaves an average of of 0.5 shots per game from inside the six-yard box; only Rayo Vallecano’s Miku (0.6) averaged more in Spain’s top tier last term. Gameiro is not someone to hopefully play into, certainly not in the air given his 5’7” stature, but rather a speed merchant to release in behind the opposition defence when the time is right.
The Frenchman has the pace to carry himself into the penalty area and the confidence to slot home cool finishes when the pressure is on, with his high shot attempts from inside the penalty area showing that Simeone will be expecting the France international to merely place the clinical cherry upon his technically gifted and offensively frightening cake. La Liga already has its MSN and BBC, but Atletico have put themselves firmly in the title equation once again by securing the second half of what could be a lethal double G partnership.
Can Gameiro and Griezmann strike up a decent attacking partnership for Atletico this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
