What if Atlético de Madrid returned in force in the Liga title race? Eliminated by Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League (in his lair of the Metropolitano), then by Barça in the semi-finals of the King's Cup (with a return meeting again at home), the Colchoneros have been a bit behind in the past few weeks. They chained two defeats against Getafe then against the Blaugranas (2-4, again in front of their supporters), to accuse a significant delay on the Catalan leader. But the results of last weekend gave Antoine Griezmann and his teammates in the battle.
Winner in extremis in Seville (1-2) while Barça and Real did not win (the Merengues even lost in Bernabéu against Valencia), Atlético receives Valladolid, the Red Lantern, Sunday evening (9 p.m.). The Blaugranas and the Merengues face two other badly classified, Legans on Saturday and Alavés on Sunday afternoon, but they are in a double confrontation in the quarterfinals of the LDC, respectively against Dortmund and Arsenal. The FCB has four points ahead of Real and seven on Atlético.
Griezmann should be renewed at the forefront by Diego Simeone this Sunday, as shown by tactical oppositions in training in recent days in the capital. The fetish number 7 of “Cholo” has been ghostly for a long time. Already on alternating current during the first part of the season, the 2018 world champion, often in great difficulty in terms of rhythm, was not decisive in the last eight matches of Atlético, being always aligned from the start. Its place is not called into question.
Griezmann like Koke
Despite this very worrying state of form, “Grizi” obviously decided to continue the adventure at Atlético. The Madrid press, however, said at the end of the year behind that the 34 -year -old (he had them on March 21) had chosen to leave Spain, where he had his whole career, to live his American dream, preferably in Los Angeles with his friends Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud. Except that Griezmann, during a meeting organized by his leaders during the last international truce, explained that he had not yet decided to leave. He has a clause allowing him to free himself from his contract until 2026, but should not activate it.
According to journalist Ruben Uria, well informed about Atlético, Antoine Griezmann always wishes to win titles with his club, this season and next year. He was never Spanish champion when he has made all his career in the across the Pyrenees and did not win a king's cup with Atlético. He lost the 2016 LDC final on penalties against Real before raising the Europa League against OM two years later. According to the Insider, the 3rd of the Ballon d'Or 2016 and 2018 is ready to become a luxury joker next season, like his great friend Koke, in order to spare his efforts and make the difference during his entries or on certain important matches.
