Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said a second-half tactical change had been key to his side's 1-0 win over Italian champions Juventus in Wednesday's Champions League Group A meeting.
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Atletico came out just about on top of a physically and tactically demanding battle at their Estadio Vicente Calderon, with Arda Turan's second half goal being the difference between the two teams at the end.
The Colchoneros coach told his post-match news conference that a pre-planned substitution he had made early in the second half, introducing the more attacking Antoine Griezmann for hardworking midfielder Saul, had turned the momentum of the game in Atletico's direction.
"We thought that with 4-4-2, we would have more chances in attack, but be less solid at the back," Simeone said. "As we started we were better defensively, but with less in attack. Games are long, we wanted to be strong in the first half, with lots of people working hard, Raul [Garcia], Saul and Arda. In the second half we changed, brought on Griezmann and went to 4-4-2, and the game opened up for whoever could strike a blow. We were able to take advantage, and then we were in a position which suited us."
With Atletico's fearsome dead-ball machine for once this season not working to plan, Turkish midfielder popped up the winning goal -- just as he had during last month's 2-1 La Liga win at Real Madrid's Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
"[Arda] has begun the season well scoring important goals, like against Madrid and now again today," Simeone said. "We demand that from him. Last year he started well too, scoring goals, but then got stuck. We need goals from everyone in the team - and that is happening: Koke, Raul Garcia, Saul and Arda today. It is important for the players in the second line to get into the area, and take advantage of the movement of [Mario] Mandzukic up front."
Malmo's 2-0 win at Olympiakos in the group's other game during this second round of fixtures, did not mean that Atletico's 3-2 opening loss away against the Greek side was completely forgotten, but had evened things up again, Simeone admitted.
"Recovered no, but with the Malmo result, it is a bit like the group is just starting again," he said. "But it is clear that Juventus remain possibly the strongest team in the group."
Simeone's Atletico have beaten many of Europe's top teams through recent times, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Milan, and the Argentine accepted a reporter's premise that the Serie A champions had posed just as difficult a challenge as any other recent opponent.
"We knew that Juventus have few places you can cause them danger," he said. "We tried to make it difficult for them with crosses from the wings. They also have a very strong team, well worked, with a defensive who can control things, enormous quality in midfield, two fantastic forwards, a goalkeeper with an enormous history - a great opponent."