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How close together a team stays when defending. A compact shape has small gaps between players and lines, making it hard for opponents to play through. When compactness breaks down - players drift, lines stretch - holes appear. Analytics can measure it by tracking the distance between the deepest defender and highest attacker, or the space between lines. Staying compact requires discipline and fitness.
Atlético Madrid's compactness under Simeone made them incredibly hard to break down. The gap between their defensive and midfield lines was often less than 10 meters, leaving attackers with no space to receive between the lines.
Robbie
Feb 5, 2026
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