You are missing only one being. As simple as it is, the observation is very real on the side of Atlético Madrid. Perhaps more in the locker room than in the spans of the Wanda Metropolitano, the absence of Antoine Griezmann leaves a void that seems difficult to fill for the Colchoneros. At half mast, the Madrid attack is the first illustration.
The difficult legacy of Antoine Griezmann
The improvement born in December and extended against Barcelona in the Super Cup (3-2) was therefore only a mirage. Since then, a defeat in the final of the same Supercup against the great Madrid rival, a scathing backhand against Leonesa (D3) in the King's Cup and five points out of fifteen possible in La Liga. The Atlético does not succeed. As if the Matelassiers had never recovered from the departure of Antoine Griezmann. Transferred to Barça last summer against 120 million euros, the Mâconnais with 133 goals for Atlético has never really been replaced on the attacking front. His designated replacement, the young hopeful Joao Felix, arrived from Benfica for the same amount, struggling to take the weight of the number 7 of Atlético on his shoulders. This number 7 orphan of Antoine Griezmann, the Portuguese had even conceded not wanting to inherit it. A weight that seems far too heavy when talking about his balance sheet, which looks starving in light of the 120 million euros invested, with 4 achievements in 24 appearances.
A collective model out of breath
Obviously still in the adaptation period, Joao Felix is still far from the level of play glimpsed at Benfica and which led him to the Golden Boy trophy in 2019. He is also far from the performance of his predecessor, as it is when it comes to evoking all the slaughter, in particular defensive, that Antoine Griezmann had at Atlético. "I also have to work on the defensive aspect of my game, I had to evolve on that side." he said in an interview with the UEFA media . In the same spirit, the other attackers in the squad are not natural, very backwards. The Alvaro Morata, Diego Costa or Angel Correa are not recognized for their defensive efforts, yet so dear to Diego Simeone. This “Simeone DNA” was the very illustration of the collective force released by Atlético Madrid which had raised the club to the rank of stronghold of European football (two Champions League finals and a triumph in the Europa League). The departure of Griezmann has undermined this logic and the whole team suffers.
Liverpool defense looks like a mountain
To this are added cascading injuries and the whole machine is seized up. The envisaged return of Diego Costa, absent since mid-November due to a herniated disc, has everything of a small ray of hope which seeks to clear up a sky which darkens as the weeks pass over the Wanda Metropolitano. If Joao Felix is still uncertain, the Colchoneros attack is still too fair in terms of efficiency, a finding symbolized by a lack of leader ahead. Edinson Cavani will not change the deal when his hoped-for arrival never materialized.
Opposite, it is the specter of Virgil Van Dijk and certainly of the best defense of the continent which is emerging. Joao Felix is lucid about the magnitude of the task “We expect a very difficult match. It may be the best team we could come across. ” Overwhelmed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus at the same stage of the competition last year, the players of "Cholo" Simeone are forced to the feat to overthrow one of the best teams in the world today. This involves negotiating the first round well at home. Antoine Griezmann knew how to sublimate himself during these great events, his worthy successor had a great opportunity to manifest himself there.
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