Atlético Madrid take on FC Barcelona on Sunday.
It’s hard to believe that only a few months ago there were critics signalling the end of Diego Simeone’s reign as Atlético Madrid coach. A frustrating 2023/24 campaign ended without silverware and with a disappointing fourth position in La Liga, and despite investing heavily on the likes of Julián Álvarez from Manchester City and Alexander Sørloth from Villarreal, the team had a slow start to the season.
While they remained unbeaten through August and September, the team drew four games during that period and didn’t look fluid or comfortable, scraping late wins against Athletic Club, RB Leipzig and Celta Vigo. Now, though, the team is on a winning streak of 11 games as they head into a crucial clash against FC Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday night.
Coach Simeone has found the key to success with his squad rotation policy, and in part that has contributed significantly to the goal count. Alexander Sørloth, the second highest-scorer in La Liga last season, arrived and has primarily settled for a role of coming off the bench, behind Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez. The Norwegian is still on seven goals and is a contributor to the stat that Atlético Madrid has scored more goals with substitutes than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues with 10 goals scored.
Add in the firepower of Antoine Griezmann, showing no sign of his age as he keeps fresh following retirement from the French national team, and Julián Álvarez, the hotshot who has hit the ground running, and those three attackers alone have scored 30 goals between them this season.
Diego Simeone’s use of his squad depth
If one aspect of Atlético Madrid’s strategy has changed this season, it’s been strength in depth. The summer arrivals have enabled Simeone to rotate across the field and handle the challenges of playing twice a week well. The rise to prominence of youngster Pablo Barrios has helped, while the return to form of previously discarted players like Javi Galán has also contributed.
Barrios has come through the club’s academy and seems to have displaced club captain Koke, relegating him to the bench in recent weeks, as he has earned his first Spain call-up. Rotating with the likes of Rodrigo de Paul and Conor Gallagher, few sides in world football can claim to have such a talented midfield as the options available to Simeone.
Even bargain signings like the loan deal to sign Clement Lenglet have worked out well. Seen as a panic buy as the club failed to replace Mario Hermoso throughout the summer, Lenglet didn’t make his debut until October. He’s played in 10 of the 11 victories in the current winning streak and has proved the perfect foil for José María Giménez in defence.
Giménez is enjoying possibly his greatest season yet in an Atlético shirt. Aided by new fitness coach, Luis Piñedo, Giménez has reduced his injuries significantly. He is yet to miss a single game with injury this season, whereas he had already been absent for 14 fixtures by this stage of 2023/24. Rotating him with the likes of Lenglet, and other experienced veterans Axel Witsel and César Azpilicueta, have enabled him to stay fit.
That’s without turning attentions to the arrival of Robin Le Normand, arguably Atleti’s best player until he suffered a head injury in the Madrid derby which has sidelined him for almost three months.
Late goals make a difference
Piñedo’s impact since stepping up this summer goes beyond simply avoiding injuries. Atlético’s club motto of ‘never stop believing’ is stronger than ever, with a remarkable 12 goals scored in injury time since the start of this season. Of those, sevens have changed the outcome of a game.
Super-sub Ángel Correa may only have scored five goals to date this season, but all five have come in the 85th minute or later. Three have changed the outcome of a game, securing injury-time wins against Athletic Club and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as a draw against Real Madrid.
Without those late goals, Atlético would have faced extra time in the Copa del Rey against lower-league Cacereño, would have dropped four points in the Champions League and seven in La Liga. That’s on top of the fact that already this season, Atlético has recovered 15 points across La Liga and the Champions League from a losing position. That includes coming back to take points off sides as strong as Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
This Atlético Madrid side is going from strength to strength and is showing little sign of tiring even as the pressure heats up. Diego Simeone may be downplaying any talk of title chances, insisting that “there are still five months to go before you can talk about that”, but the Colchoneros are certainly in the fight.
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