Atlético Madrid 0-0 Deportivo A Coruña at Half-Time: Hosts Shut Out by Five-Man Back Line

Atlético Madrid and Deportivo A Coruña are level at 0-0 at half-time at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, but the scoreline flatters the hosts. Deportivo have generated 0.91 expected goals to Atlético's 0.30, and the visitors' three shots on target dwarf Atlético's zero despite both sides registering seven attempts.

The shape explains the stalemate. Deportivo set up in a 5-3-2 — five across the back, three midfielders screening, two up top — and Atlético's 4-2-3-1 has found no consistent route through it. Atlético hold 55 percent of the ball and have completed 247 passes at 89 percent accuracy, but only 10 of their touches have come inside the Deportivo box, the same number as the visitors managed.

The most damaging number for Atlético is the split between open play and set plays. Deportivo's 0.91 xG breaks down into 0.66 from set plays and just 0.25 from open play. Atlético, by contrast, have mustered 0.24 from open play and 0.06 from set plays. Deportivo have won three corners to Atlético's one, and two big chances to Atlético's none. Diego Simeone's side have not forced a single save.

Against the 5-3-2, six Atlético players have been squeezed for space. Pablo Barrios has been dispossessed twice, completed only 76 percent of his passes and recorded a 6.05 rating across 35 touches. Morten Hjulmand has been tidier on the ball at 93.3 percent passing but has managed just 33 touches and a 6.18 rating. Kang-In Lee has seen only 26 touches and passed at 75 percent.

Dávid Hancko (100 percent passing, 41 touches, 6.81), Marcos Llorente (87.5 percent, 37 touches, 6.84) and Alejandro Grimaldo (95.8 percent, 33 touches, 6.88) have been more secure but no more incisive — the volume of touches without penetration is the story of Atlético's half.

Atlético have won 16 duels to Deportivo's 14 and committed four fouls to the visitors' one, picking up the half's only yellow card. The territorial control is there; the final-third quality is not. Lorenzo Amatucci has carried Deportivo's biggest threat with 0.56 xG, while Julián Álvarez has been limited to 0.06 xG at the other end. Simeone needs a way to turn 55 percent possession and 144 passes in the opposition half into shots on target — because right now Deportivo are the side closer to breaking the deadlock.