€450m in squad value difference - Deadly Atlético Madrid beat the Seattle Sounders

SEATTLE -- Atlético Madrid have rebounded from their matchday 1 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. On Thursday, Atléti defeated hosts Seattle Sounders 1-3 in front of 51,636 spectators at Lumen Field. The goalscorers for Atlético Madrid were Pablo Barrios (11’ & 55’) and Axel Witsel (48’). Albert Rusnak (50’) scored the only goal for the Major League Soccer side. The result keeps Atlético Madrid alive in the competition, and the Sounders are now facing elimination from the FIFA Club World Cup.

It was also a justified result. While Seattle looked competitive against Botafogo (1-2), the MLS club was truly outclassed on Thursday. The stats underline Atlético Madrid’s dominance. Indeed, Diego Simeone’s side should have scored a few more. Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth had two massive chances in the first half and left the pitch in the 66th minute with an xG of 1.17 but zero goals. Thankfully, for Atleti, Sørloth’s teammates were more impactful. Barrios, in particular, had a brilliant game, scoring two goals from an xG of just 0.36.

Seattle had their moments and would finish the game with an xG of 1.38. But that pales in comparison to Atleti’s xG of 3.32. Atlético also controlled the game with 58% possession and 432 to Seattle’s 298 completed passes. Indeed, it was the sort of performance expected considering the gulf in squad value between the two clubs. While Seattle have a squad value of €51.75m, Atlético Madrid’s squad is worth €508.5m. To put that into perspective, Barrios, who recorded a brace today, has a higher market value than the Sounders on his own. Atleti’s most valuable player, former Man City star Julián Alvarez, has a market value of €100m.

Seattle Sounders at the FIFA Club World Cup – PSG are up next

With all that in mind, the result was perhaps to be expected. That doesn’t mean the Sounders were completely without their chances in the competition. Indeed, as pointed out in a previous piece, it has been the fine margins that have made the difference for MLS clubs in this competition. The Sounders, for example, were very much competitive in their first game against Botafogo but lacked a deadly no.9 up front. Today, the difference was a bit more obvious, but there were opportunities there to keep the match closer. Also, while Inter Miami have a deadly weapon in Messi, the Sounders lack a genuine goalscorer upfront.

So, what then are the major takeaways from Seattle ahead of their big challenge against UEFA Champions League winners PSG? “Every player will get a little bit better from this,” Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer said. On balance, there is a feeling that the Sounders are competitive on this level. “I think it is one of those things that we have to learn and see,” Seattle striker Jesús Ferreira said. “It is hard in the moment, but that’s just it, the game is about inches. Games are won in the box. If we start to take care of things in the other box, then we can win some games.”

Ferreira was added in January to add goals for Seattle, but as of now, that hasn’t happened yet. In fact, Ferreira thought he had scored, but his goal was called back. “I was hoping the ball would come a bit earlier there,” Ferreira said. “I thought Georgi [Minoungou] was going to play me on with one touch. But once he started dribbling, I had to drift off and I knew I was offside.” That sums it up. The decision-making in the final third just wasn’t there, and at this level against top European competition, you will get punished.