Real Madrid’s dominant 3-0 win versus Atletico Madrid over the weekend was a stark contrast from when the two sides met in the Champions League finals last May in more ways than just the scoreline. That game ended 1-1 in regulation, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the match winning penalty (although with another penalty last weekend, some things never change). The Champions League loss was enough for Diego Simeone to briefly contemplate quitting the team built in his own image. Six months later, Atleti sit in sixth place, a point back of Villarreal and Real Sociedad for the final Champions League spot. Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane’s side are top of the table and have yet to lose this season. In fact, Real Madrid’s last loss in La Liga came against Atleti in February. 

The easiest way to analyze Real Madrid’s win this time around is through Ronaldo’s performance. His hat trick consisted of a free kick, a penalty, and a counter attacking goal late in the match. The penalty was a telling mistake. Stefan Savic, preferred again to Jose Gimenez at center back, made a double error of misjudging a long ball and mistiming his tackle on Ronaldo inside the box. These defensive errors have uncharacteristically let Atleti down, especially in the past month.

Granted, this is partially by design. Atleti emphasized their attack by implementing a 4-1-4-1 formation in lieu of their patented 4-4-2 defensive block. The shift coincides with the emergence of Yannick Carrasco as a scoring winger and the high priced signing of striker Kevin Gameiro. If the purpose was goals, consider the change a success: they’ve scored 25 goals in La Liga, including seven against Granada, five against Sporting, and four versus Celta Vigo and Malaga. But Atleti have also given up 11 goals compared to six goals at this time last season. Losses to Sevilla, Real Sociedad and Madrid within the last month put them nine points back in the title race. It is the worse start in Simeone’s five seasons with Atleti.

Yet more important to the future of Atleti is the question of defensive identity. Koke permanently moved inside to partner Gabi in center midfield. In Atleti’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid last February, the defensively oriented Augusto Fernandez played alongside Gabi, with Koke and Saul on the wings. Playing four center mids across midfield has been a key detail in Atleti’s success, with two defensive midfielders anchoring the middle and two attacking midfielders tasked with creating chances. Gabi uncharacteristically broke ranks and described his partnership with the more attack minded Koke as defensively fragile. Combined with Antoine Griezmann’s criticism of his side earlier in the season, Atleti are seemingly fighting three battles this season: against their opponents, against success and expectations, and against a stylistic evolution.

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There’s a long list of impressive statistics explaining Real Madrid’s form under Zidane. They haven’t lost in 30 matches. With 18 goals, Ronaldo surpassed Alfredo Di Stefano as Real Madrid's highest goal scorer against Atleti. Real Madrid are unbeaten when La Liga no stats all-star Lucas Vazquez starts. They’ve given up just 10 goals this season in the league. In Zidane, Real Madrid have their own version of Simeone, a manager who solidified the identity of his team.

Numbers and Ronaldo hat tricks aside, Isco was the team’s creative engine against their city rivals. It is a testament to the squad’s depth that he was only playing after injuries to Casemiro and Toni Kroos, two out of the three midfielders who started in last season’s Champions League finals (Isco came on for Kroos in second half). While we’ve espoused our appreciation for the former Malaga midfielder before, Saturday’s match may be a turning point for the now 24-year-old who has yet to live up to vast expectations and may have been surpassed by Atletico midfielders Saul and Koke on the national team roster.

Whether looking at his 91% pass completion rate and 7 recoveries, or a compilation highlighting his control in midfield, this was perhaps Isco’s signature match with Real Madrid. Operating behind Ronaldo but combining with Marcelo and Bale on the left side of midfield, his performance also showed Zidane’s tactical savviness. The defensive minded Vazquez started over Karim Benzema in attack, and Kovacic and Modric at the base of midfield allowed Isco to play freely further up field.

Isco has made no secret of his preference to play behind in a free role behind the striker, although it doesn’t exist in the current setup with Ronaldo, Bales, and Benzema in attack. But without Casemiro, Alvaro Morata, or Benzema, Isco’s match winning ability gives Real Madrid another shape should they eventually move on from the BBC trio. Also impressive was the depth at center back with Sergio Ramos and Pepe missing; Varane and Nacho have combined for two consecutive clean sheets. They take a quick breath this weekend against Sporting before playing Barcelona on December 3rd. La Liga has its own form of gravity.

But the match was about Atleti’s disappointing performance in their final home game against their rivals at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Before the match, supporters unveiled a tifo that read “Our Legacy Will Be Eternal”. There is no doubting Simeone’s place in club history with his work over the past five seasons. And still, the pieces and players of the style that brought Atletico Madrid to this level are still within the squad. The question is whether Simeone will once again look backwards to move into the future.