Copa Libertadores's just found its own Atlético de Madrid

   Granted, most attempts to decode South American football tactics using European standards are simplistic and unfair to South American squads and their managers. But the Emelec side of Argentine-born Bolivian boss Gustavo Quinteros -who is to take over the Ecuadorean national team for Copa América- has some significant resemblances with Simeone's Atlético de Madrid. Most notably, their compact 4-4-2 formation, their patient approach without the ball and their use of a Diego Costa type center-forward: Miller Bolaños. That should make Emelec a tough rival in this Copa Libertadores and even a potential dark horse.

Emelec, current monarchs of the Ecuadorean Serie A, have so far outfoxed Universidad de Chile in Santiago for the opening match of Group Four (0-1), and outplayed Bolivian club The Strongest (3-0) for matchday two at home (played in Manta city due to renewal works of their George Capwell Stadium in Guayaquil). As one can tell from the above image against the Chilean team, they hardly modify their 4-4-2 formation both in possession and without it.

What makes their strategic approach extraordinarily similar to that of Atlético de Madrid is the bonus feature that Quinteros can deploy either natural wingers or inverted wingers (Ángel Mena, being left-footed, played the first match on the right flank while the second one he operated on the left) depending on depth-or-width necessities. Just like Arda Turan or Saúl Ñíguez in current versions of Atleti. Arguably, playing U de Chile away was best suited for a patient counter-attacking stance in which the wingers could occupy the interior zones left vacated by Bolaños and Luis Escalada's horizontal movement (as the Bolaños-Mena combination for the winner goal confirmed). The opposite stance, wingers providing width, worked brilliantly against weaker opposition in Manta.

In both matches, however, Emelec recorded lower percentages of ball possession and lower rates of pass success. This may indicate a preference for a more direct transition game in the channels as Pedro Quiñónez and Osbaldo Lastra, the holding midfield duo, actually lack passing accuracy.

The embedded vine above shows Bolaños's opener against The Strongest. Within the frame, one can observe Luis Escaladas's great cross from the right, which in turn was enabled by Mauro Fernández motoring forward in a quick counterattack from a corner kick. Outside the frame, nonetheless, one can't observe Bolaños's cynical tackle at the birth of that attack, taking down his marker while the referee was focused on the other side of the pitch. That defines Bolaños: a smart striker whose pace and dribbling abilities can turn him into an electric winger whenever the flux of play makes it mandatory, and a ruthless finisher whose gamesmanship turns him into the quintessential South American forward.

With two solid victories in a row, this Copa Libertadores's Atlético de Madrid stand a good chance to make it to the next stage. The doubts, of course, rise when one remembers that Quinteros will soon depart to take the Ecuador job. This may sound bad news for Emelec (and they are indeed), but given Reynaldo Rueda's cagey tactics in the World Cup, these can be great news for incoming Copa América.