The Weekly Take, Issue 381: It's Not Real's City Anymore

It's exceptionally rare that a team is able to get the psychological edge over Real Madrid - a team which has on countless occasions delivered the goods under the highest stakes. However, this is exactly what has turned out to be the case over the past several years with none other than their cross-town rivals Atlético Madrid who, in the latest Madrid derby, once again highlighted the fact that Atlético have now unquestionably gotten into Los Merengues' heads.

Atlético shook off their slow start to the current La Liga season with a 5-2 thrashing of Real on the back of a dominant second half. Atlético opened the scoring in the 14th minute by way of a Robin Le Normand header that finished off a cross sent in by Giovanni Simeone. Later in the first half, Real would fire back with two goals within an 11-minute span - the first from Kylian Mbappé, the second from Arda Güler who had earlier set up Mbappé's goal.

Shortly before the half-time interval, Atlético centre-back Clement Lenglet had a goal waved off by VAR after a check revealed that the Frenchman had handled the ball on its way into the net. Nevertheless, Atlético entered the break on level terms after Alexander Sørloth scored his side's second headed goal of the match in first-half stoppage time.

It was one-way traffic after the break as Atlético completely took over. Following an Atlético corner kick early in the second half, Güler fouled Nicolás González in the penalty area; the ensuing penalty was duly converted by Julián Alvarez. The Argentinian striker scored his second and Atlético's fourth in the 63rd minute with a spectacular free kick. Fittingly, rounding off the victory was a stoppage-time goal scored by none other than the greatest player to ever put on an Atlético jersey: Antoine Griezmann.

At this point, it's remarkable to think that from 1999 to 2013, Atlético did not beat Real even once. Yet at this point, if there's any team that seems to have the blueprint to stopping the 15-time European champions, it would have to be Atlético. Not even Real's greatest rivals Barcelona have had Real's number like this as Real have beaten Barça in five of the last 11 editions of El Clásico.

Despite conceding two goals, Atlético kept Real's attack stymied throughout the match; the two goals which Real scored were their only two shots on target. Real were simply unable to cope with the level of intensity that Atlético brought. Atlético were not only able to have their way with Real's attack for the vast majority of the match; they turned this defensive edge into goalscoring chances of their own on offense.

Real couldn't find any way to counter Atlético's pressing and rotations and on multiple occasions ended up overcommitting because of this. As soon as Sørloth scored the equalizing goal, it almost seemed inevitable that Atlético would run away with the match in the second half. It never really felt as though Real played like they themselves genuinely believed they could beat Atlético - a stunning contrast when compared to what Madrid derbies before 2010 were usually like.

Although Atlético remain six points behind Real who remain in first place in the league despite the loss, a result like this clearly highlights that they can't be counted out in their pursuit of a first league title in five years. There's still more than enough time to make up the ground they've lost in the early going - and if recent history is anything to go by, Atlético will likely take three more points off Real in the upcoming reverse fixture in March as well.

While it may be true that on the surface this was "just one early-season match", the trend has nonetheless been incredibly obvious to anyone paying attention. This wasn't even necessarily entirely an instance of Atlético outstrategizing Real; this most recent victory was all the evidence that anyone could've needed as proof that Diego Simeone's team has entirely reversed the Madrid clubs' respective statuses as far as their history in derby matches is concerned.

The Madrid derby has never held the prestige of its counterparts in London, Milan, or Manchester, among others, largely due to Atlético Madrid's ineptitude for long stretches of time. However, we have clearly entered a new era - one in which Atlético are not only competitive, but the outright favourites to win derby matches.

The Weekly Take, Issue 346: "El Cholo" Does It Again

Having surrendered first place in La Liga to cross-town rivals Real Madrid after losing 1-0 against Leganes, Atlético Madrid entered their Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen not only seeking to bounce back, but also to tighten their grip on their position in the top 8 and move a step closer to automatically qualifying for the tournament’s round of 16.

Atlético did indeed pick up the win in the penultimate matchday of the tournament’s league phase, putting them in fifth place with just an away match against the already eliminated Red Bull Salzburg remaining. However, the match didn’t exactly get off to the smoothest of starts for Atlético. Pablo Barrios was sent off in the 25th minute after a harsh tackle on Nordi Mukiele. Barrios had initially been shown a yellow card; however, a subsequent VAR check revealed that the foul was more severe than what the officials had initially assumed.

Leverkusen would go on to take advantage of having an extra player on the field. In first-half stoppage time, Mukiele sent in a cross which was finished off by a Piero Hincapié header to put the German club ahead going into the interval. Atlético would then score the equalizing goal less than seven minutes after the break via Julián Alvarez before Leverkusen themselves would be reduced to 10 men. In the 76th minute, Hincapié picked up his second yellow card after fouling Giuliano Simeone on the edge of the penalty area.

Atlético’s winning goal came in the last minute of regulation time. Substitute Ángel Correa set up Alvarez who then rounded Leverkusen goalkeeper Matěj Kovář before putting the ball into the empty net to finish off the 2-1 victory. It was Atlético’s fourth consecutive Champions League win and put them in a very strong position with just one matchday of the league phase left.

It has often been said that more than any other top team in European football today, Atlético embody their head coach’s tactical philosophy. This was on full display against Leverkusen as in front of a passionate home crowd, Diego Simeone had Atlético playing as the fullest expression of his inimitable (and somewhat divisive) strategic approach. Atlético had just 30% of the possession and took only five shots throughout the match; they also completed well under a third of all the completed passes played by either team.

Admittedly, Atlético once again carried out their share of the “dark arts” - but this has, somewhat controversially, always been a core tenet of this Atlético team under "El Cholo". Despite opposing teams and fans railing against it every now and again, Simeone has always been unapologetic about it. Time and again over the years, Atlético have essentially psyched out and harassed their opponents into a loss - and this was, in several ways, what again happened in the match against Leverkusen.

Ever since taking over at Atlético in 2011, Simeone has taken the club to its most successful era ever and from day one has instilled a tactical setup involving deep defending and counter-attacking play - almost the exact opposite of the free-flowing, visually appealing football advocated by many other coaches. To some neutrals, this has made Atlético almost unwatchable; however, the results speak for themselves and this was once again the case against Leverkusen as Simeone’s opposite number Xabi Alonso, for all that he’s already achieved in his short yet impressive coaching career, had absolutely no answer for the Argentine.

To prevail over Simeone’s Atlético team, it’s not enough to merely have the personnel and the tactics. This is a team which deliberately sets out to get into opponents’ heads - and against the unprepared, this often works. While certainly frustrating to play against and for many, to watch as well, there’s no question that it clearly works.

Whatever one may think of him, Diego Simeone again proved why he’s one of the greatest coaches of the modern era. Now in his 14th season at the Metropolitano, Simeone has achieved a level of success at Atlético Madrid that very few could ever have - and the reality is this: if he had never come in with the approach that he always has, Atlético would never have emerged as the clear third-biggest club in Spain, only behind Real and Barcelona.

The Weekly Take, Issue 295: Let Off the Hook - But for How Long?

Unlike what has often been the case over the past decade, this iteration of the Madrid derby did not feature a Real Madrid and an Atlético Madrid team which were both in contention for the league title. Heading into the match, Atlético were in fourth place in La Liga and 10 points behind their cross-town rivals who topped the league. This has unquestionably been one of the most difficult seasons at the Wanda Metropolitano ever since they established themselves as a genuine powerhouse of Spanish football.

Somewhat surprisingly, Atlético left the Santiago Bernabéu with a share of the points following a 1-1 draw despite having been clearly outplayed throughout the match. Brahim Díaz marked an outstanding individual performance with an early goal to put Real one goal ahead at half-time. A few minutes after the interval, Atlético believed that they'd equalized after Stefan Savić headed the ball into the net from Antoine Griezmann header. However, it did not count as a VAR check revealed that Atlético midfielder Saúl Ñíguez was offside.

Although Real continued to dictate play and control proceedings, they would eventually be shockingly denied all three points in stoppage time. Marcos Llorente's goal ensure that if nothing else, Atlético would at least put the brakes on Real's league title bid and prevent them from taking advantage of Girona's prior 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad.

However, this result did not benefit either team. Atlético are attempting to stay in the top four and thereby clinch a spot in next season's Champions League. This derby draw saw their lead over fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao cut to three points after the Basque club destroyed Mallorca 4-0. While it's certainly not time to panic yet, Atlético's 11-year Champions League qualification streak is now in actual jeopardy.

In truth, Atlético can count themselves rather fortunate to have managed a draw. Most of the time, being outplayed by such a clear margin would result in a decisive loss. The match against Real highlighted several issues which have plagued Atlético all season long. As has so often been the case this season, Atlético allowed their opponents the freedom to create far too many goalscoring opportunities. While they might have been let off the hook this time, that won't always be the case - indeed, it's exactly this which has cost them many points this season.

One-on-one defense has also been a problem for Atlético this season. In this match, Real's first goal was a direct result of sub-par one-on-one defense. Twice during the build-up, a Real player was left with way too much room, allowing them to set up the next pass in the move which led to Brahim's opening goal. Historically speaking, this has been something of an outlier as ever since Diego Simeone first took over in the dugout back in 2011. Simeone's tactics have always favoured a tight defensive approach - the squads of 2014 to 2021 almost never committed such errors like that.

Atlético's dismal away form has to be their biggest cause for concern. While every team does perform better at home, Atlético have amassed just 14 of their 48 league points on the road. Should they continue to hand out cheap points left, right, and centre while on their travels, it certainly won't be easy to hang on to fourth place in the league.

Of course, there's still time for Atlético to right the ship and solidify their place in the top four. They are yet to play Barcelona and Girona for the second time in the league this season. Additionally, a deep Champions League run is still not out of the question; however, Atlético are the clear underdogs heading into their round of 16 tie against Inter Milan. Unless things change soon, this could end up becoming perhaps Atlético's most disappointing season of the hitherto tremendously successful Simeone era.

At this moment, Atlético Madrid have achieved more than enough in recent times to have earned themselves the benefit of the doubt. However, ultimately sports is about "what have you done for me lately?" Atlético just aren't the force they were even three years ago. It's clear that if they have to keep relying on stronger rivals failing to finish the job, it will likely not end well for them this season.

The Weekly Take, Issue 254: Stuck in No Man's Land

A top-of-the-table La Liga match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid ended up with Barça moving a step closer to what will almost certainly be another league title. The Catalan club's 1-0 victory ensured that their lead at the top of La Liga would remain at 11 points after the 30th matchday. Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match shortly before halftime.

As for Atlético, they were handed yet another reality check in a season full of them. Atlético's loss left them 16 points adrift of Barça; it also caused them to lose further ground on cross-town rivals Real Madrid in the chase for second place in the league.

To say that Atlético have endured a season full of struggles would clearly be an understatement. Atlético were knocked out of the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2017-18 season. They not only failed to advance to the round of 16; due to the fact that Atlético finished in last place in their group, it meant that they did not even qualify for a spot in the Europa League's round of 24. This also meant that Atlético would not be taking part in continental play after the halfway point of the season for the first time since the 2006-07 season - the last time they were not even involved in European football during a season.

Assuming Atlético end up falling even further adrift of the top of the league by the end of the season (as is almost certain to happen), they will finish this season's La Liga campaign further behind the eventual league champion than they have in any season since 2012-13 when they were 24 points behind Barça at season's end. To top it all off, they were knocked out by Real in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

A major reason for Atlético's situation right now has been their relative inaction in both transfer windows. This is somewhat surprising when one considers that Atlético have always been one of the most proactive clubs in the transfer market. In fact, they have built a reputation of replacing every star player who leaves with another one just like that. However, this certainly has not been the case this season. The most notable signing that Atlético have made this season is Dutch striker Memphis Depay, who was brought in during the January transfer window. However, he hasn't had the level of impact needed to take Atlético to the next level. Despite having played fairly well at Atlético thus far, Memphis has primarily come off the bench since his debut in red and white.

On a related note, the biggest problem that plagues Atlético right now is their lack of a consistent goal threat up front. Their leading goalscorer in the league right now is Antoine Griezmann with 11. Atlético have just 47 goals in 30 league matches - a figure not nearly enough if they are to seriously challenge for the league title. Even more worrying is the fact that of these 47 goals, 38 of them have been scored by players aged 28 or older. This is an aging team that is in dire need of a shake-up during the coming off-season.

I have previously mentioned how it could very well be the case that Atlético's time as one of European football's elite clubs might soon be ending as well as how the next off-season will be pivotal for the future of the club. However, the biggest domino of all could soon fall. There have been intensifying rumours surrounding the future of legendary head coach Diego Simeone and the possibility that he might step down. If he does not see a viable avenue for the club's return to the top table, this once-unthinkable scenario might just happen.

Without the financial might of rivals Barça and Real, Atlético Madrid's decade-plus as a bona fide football powerhouse has been nothing short of remarkable. However, for the first time in a long time, Atlético's future appears somewhat uncertain. This has been something of a "lost season" at the Wanda Metropolitano - but will it turn into more than just a single season? At this point, the path forward remains unclear - and that is never a good sign.

The Weekly Take, Issue 239: The End of an Era Approaching?

Atlético Madrid's ascension to become one of world football's elite clubs over the past decade-plus has been one of the most remarkable stories in the sport. Without funding from an oil magnate, foreign oligarch, or billionaire of any other sort, Atlético transformed from the inside out. In just a few years, what was once regarded as Madrid's second club went from being an absolute basket case on and off the pitch to perhaps the best-run club in the world.

Their results since establishing themselves as a top club speak for themselves. Over the past ten seasons, Atlético have won two La Liga titles and finished in the top three every season. They have also won a Copa del Rey and a Europa League. Most impressively of all, they reached the Champions League final twice; both times, they were beaten by cross-town arch-rivals Real Madrid.

However, this season it appears as though the good times might finally be coming to an end. Their 1-0 home loss to league leaders Barcelona left them in fifth place in the league, 14 points adrift of the Catalan club. Ousmane Dembélé scored the only goal of the match to deal a blow to Atlético's chances of qualifying for the Champions League for an 11th consecutive season.

Atlético are mired in the midst of a severe slump. Over their last five league matches, they have collected just four points. This comes after somehow finishing in last place in what should have been a relatively easy Champions League group containing Porto, Club Brugge, and Bayer Leverkusen and thus even missing out on the Europa League. Atlético are currently on pace to finish the season with just 64 points in the league; this figure would be their lowest tally since their 2011-12 campaign - the last time they missed out on a Champions League qualification spot.

One key reason behind Atlético's struggles this season has to do with their off-season transfer window. Atlético had always been known to be extremely shrewd in the transfer window; however, such was clearly not the case during the previous off-season. Their signings of Axel Witsel and Nahuel Molina have clearly not worked, while Sergio Reguilon has barely played at all after arriving on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. Although an opportunity to right these wrongs exists in the form of the ongoing January transfer window, Atlético have thus far shown little inclination to make an important signing that would give them a leg up in the chase for a top-four spot.

It also doesn't help that many of Atlético's players have been underperforming this season. Players such as Witsel, Molina, Saúl Ñíguez, Koke, Rodrigo de Paul, and Jan Oblak have been thoroughly underwhelming thus far. To make matters worse, the fatigue that Molina incurred after being a key piece in Argentina's run to the World Cup title has further negatively impacted his play. In the match against Barça, the full-back was clearly off the pace and still hadn't readjusted to the rigours of league play, especially against a top team like Barça. When de Paul returns, Atlético are likely to see the same from him as well, given the fact that he played in all seven of the Albiceleste's World Cup matches.

What makes it even more crucial for Atlético to regain their form is the fact that Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao are creeping up on them. If their slump continues for longer than expected, they might even find it difficult to qualify for next season's Europa League - an utterly unthinkable scenario when this season began.

This is a club which is no stranger to adversity - indeed, it can be said that Atlético Madrid have historically thrived in the face of it. That being said, the second half of this season is likely to be the toughest challenge they have faced in a very long time. Atlético has earned a reputation as a team full of grit and resolve - one with an enormous collective chip on their shoulders. Perhaps it will take a key new signing, a tactical overhaul, or maybe even a reshuffling of the regular starting 11 to set them back on the right path.

Could the end of Atlético's greatest era be coming, or is this just a blip? Only time will tell.

The Weekly Take, Issue 228: Stumbling Out of the Gates

The first Madrid derby of the 2022-23 La Liga saw Atlético Madrid host Real Madrid. Having entered the match in shaky form, Atlético's slow start to the season continued with a 2-1 loss to their cross-town rivals. First-half goals scored by Rodrygo and Federico Valverde saw Real take a 2-0 lead into the halftime break. Seven minutes from the end of regulation time, Atlético centre-back Mario Hermoso came off the bench to reduce the deficit, but that would be as close as Atlético would come. To cap off the loss, Hermoso was sent off after picking up a second yellow card in stoppage time.

The pre-match buildup was overshadowed by racist remarks targeted at Real striker Vinícius Júnior and his usual goal celebration. While these events seemed to galvanize Real and give them a cause around which they could rally, they appeared to have the exact opposite effect on Atlético. For almost the entire match, Atlético were thoroughly outplayed by their arch-rivals. Frankly, Atlético were rather fortunate to lose by just one goal.

After six La Liga matchdays, Atlético are in sixth place, eight points behind leaders Real. This is somewhat new territory for Atlético as they have finished in La Liga's top three in each of the last 10 seasons, picking up two league titles along the way. Thus, the question must be asked: what exactly is going wrong at the Wanda Metropolitano?

For one thing, Atlético's new off-season signings as well as their loan returnees have not gelled with the players already at the club in the way they had been expected to. Axel Witsel, Saúl Ñíguez, Antoine Griezmann, and Nahuel Molina have all been thoroughly disappointing thus far. Although Álvaro Morata appears to have hit the ground running follow a return from a loan stint at Juventus, his track records suggests that he is likely to regress to the mean before long.

Additionally, the drama surrounding the loan signing of Griezmann from Barcelona does not help matters at all. The French forward is now in the second season of a loan stint from the Catalan club. The terms of Griezmann's loan to Atlético reportedly state that Atlético have an obligation to sign him for €40 million if he were to play 45 minutes or more of at least 14 Atlético matches this season. As a result, Atlético head coach Diego Simeone has been reluctant to start Griezmann; the Madrid derby was Griezmann's first league start of the season. Barça, who believe that Atlético are currently obliged to sign Griezmann as a result of the matches in which he featured last season, intend to sue Atlético regarding this matter. This is undoubtedly an enormous distraction - one which could derail Atlético's season before it even gets off the ground.

Another factor that has caused Atlético to struggle is the alarming decline in form of goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Just four years ago, the Slovenian was the consensus pick as "the best goalkeeper in the world" - and it wasn't even close. Even a year and a half ago, Oblak was in most people's top five goalkeepers worldwide. However, thus far this season, he is almost unrecognizable when compared to the commanding presence who so deftly and ably patrolled the Atlético goalposts. To make matters even more alarming, Oblak is 29 years old - relatively young for a goalkeeper. If he is indeed past his best, Oblak's career arc will have included a remarkably early peak before declining. Considering the fact that goalkeeper is typically the position with the greatest longevity, it's possible that Atlético might have to think twice about retaining Oblak as the starting goalkeeper beyond this season.

Atlético are no strangers to adversity; indeed, in the first few years after gatecrashing Spain's former top table of two, they fought tooth and nail to hang on to that spot and ultimately consolidate it. Now, Atlético might just be facing their toughest challenge since their "arrival" about a decade ago.

Of course, if they are serious about clawing back the deficit to the top three, it's likely that a major shake-up will come in the January transfer window. Changes to Atlético's regular starting line-up may also be necessary. Arguably most importantly of all, any form of clarity on the Griezmann situation will be greatly welcomed.

The Weekly Take, Issue 186: Time to Panic Yet?

With just one Champions League matchday remaining, Atlético Madrid find themselves at risk of not only failing to qualify for the tournament's last 16, but perhaps even missing out on the Europa League spot provided to third-placed teams in each group. This shocking turn of events is now a real possibility after Atlético lost 1-0 in a crucial Champions League group-stage match against AC Milan. Junior Messias came off the bench to score the only goal in the 87th minute.

To say that the season thus far has not gone according to plan for the reigning La Liga champions would be an understatement. They are currently fourth in the league and trail city rivals Real Madrid as well as Real Sociedad and Sevilla. There is a genuine possibility that Atlético might fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. If they were to do so, such a failure would occur for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

In the Champions League, Atlético's loss to Milan put them in last place in Group B. Their match against Porto on December 7 will prove to be decisive. Should Atlético be unable to leave Portugal with the victory, they will have been eliminated in the group stage - a stunning turn of events for a team expected to be in contention for a first Champions League title in club history.

At the beginning of this season, no one could have expected Atlético to be struggling like this. Considering the fact that Real did not significantly strengthen their squad during the off-season transfer window as well as the constant state of dysfunction which continues to plague Barcelona, Atlético were in prime position to clinch back-to-back league titles for the first time in over 70 years.

In addition, Atlético's Champions League group of Liverpool, Porto, and Milan was a group which, while deemed to be fairly difficult, was one from which Atlético were generally expected to advance to the knockout stage. Instead, they might very well be knocked out in the group stage for just the second time over the past nine seasons.

Many of Atlético's main players have undoubtedly underperformed this season. Players such as Antoine Griezmann, Ángel Correa, Stefan Savić, and most alarmingly of all, Jan Oblak have been nowhere near the levels that they reached last season. Despite being Atlético's top scorer with seven league goals, Luis Suárez's play has been inconsistent outside of his finishing. The only players who have been impressive for Atlético this season are Yannick Carrasco and José Giménez.

Atlético also jeopardized their prospects this season with an unimpressive transfer window. Of their three off-season signings, none have managed to make a significant impact; they are not particularly expected to do so, either. Their haul of Marcos Paulo, Rodrigo De Paul, and Matheus Cunha for a combined €65 million was rather underwhelming. Even their decision to bring back Griezmann for a second stint on a loan deal from Barça may have proven to be a poor one. It appears that Griezmann's best days are now permanently in the rearview mirror. He is clearly not the player he was just two to three years ago. At 30, it is unlikely that he will ever return to that level.

Of course, it cannot be forgotten that Atlético have the ultimate trump card in their corner: head coach Diego Simeone. Time and again, the Argentinean has proven his strategic genius. If there were ever to be a coach who could lead Atlético out of this predicament, it would surely be "El Cholo". For almost the entirety of his tenure at the Wanda Metropolitano, Simeone has thrived in the underdog role. It appears that he will once again have to drag Atlético out of a tough spot as they seek to turn their season around.

The next transfer window in January could be pivotal for Atlético's success during the second half of the season. An infusion of some much-needed new blood could be exactly the shake-up that Atlético need to get their season back on track.

There are teams which have achieved great success after having been in even more dire positions than Atlético's current situation, so it isn't impossible by any means for Atlético to salvage their season. However, if things do not improve soon, it might just be time to be legitimately concerned about Atlético Madrid.

The Weekly Take, Issue 157: Still Up for Grabs

The most highly-anticipated matchday of the La Liga season ended up being rather anti-climactic.

This was the matchday during which each of the four contenders would face off against a rival for the league title. Barcelona hosted Atlético Madrid while Real Madrid had a home match against Sevilla.

Barça and Atlético played first. Their match ended in a 0-0 draw, meaning that Atlético remained top of the league by two points heading into Real and Sevilla's match the next day. The result was a major missed opportunity for Barça, who had the chance to take the lead by winning.

The next day, Real took on Sevilla. Sevilla had to win to stay in contention for the title. They could not; Eden Hazard's stoppage-time equalizer ensured that it finished at 2-2. The result narrowed the league title contenders to just three after 35 of the 38 matchdays. Like Barça, Real trail Atlético by two points; however, Real are ahead of Barça due to a better head-to-head record.

As the current league leaders and with no remaining fixtures against fellow title contenders, some might assume that Atlético have the title all but sealed. However, this is far from the case. Over the past several months, Atlético's form has declined dramatically. Their once massive league lead has dwindled to just two. They were also comprehensively defeated in the Champions League's round of 16, losing 3-0 on aggregate to Chelsea.

Atlético will next have a massive encounter against Real Sociedad. This is arguably the toughest match remaining for any of the three title contenders. Win that and they'll be just about there - Atlético's last two matches will be against Osasuna and Valladolid; these matches are two likely victories.

Real's final stretch of matches is probably the most difficult among those of all three teams involved. Although they will be favoured to beat Granada, Villarreal, and Athletic Bilbao, all three are good enough to possibly cause an upset and derail Real's bid for back-to-back league titles.

In addition, the fact that Real made the deepest Champions League run among all three title hopefuls could end up working against them. Fatigue could play a role and perhaps cause them to drop much-needed points. This is especially crucial for Real, given the fact that they no longer control their own destiny.

Barça's final run-in is probably the easiest; they face Levante, Celta Vigo, and Eibar. The only slight question mark is Celta; nevertheless, it is a match which the Catalan club will be expected to win. If Atlético were to drop points, Barça would likely have a better chance than would Real to claim the league title, should one of them come from behind and do just that.

That being said, a shadow hangs over Camp Nou - one which may distract the team to such an extent that it derails their title bid. This shadow is, of course, the possible departure of Lionel Messi in the coming off-season. Almost a year ago, it seemed all but certain that Messi would leave the club at which he has become its most iconic figure and perhaps the greatest player of all time. As rumours continue to fly around, Barça will need to summon all their mental toughness to block them out and make one last push.

In any case, it is certainly refreshing to see a competitive title race in one of Europe's four major leagues. Inter Milan, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich all but clinched the Serie A, Premier League, and Bundesliga titles respectively weeks ago. What's more, the fact the La Liga title race includes three teams separated by just two points marks this season out as the most competitive since the 2013-14 season. That year, it was again the same three teams chasing the title. Atlético triumphed with 90 points; Barça and Real both finished on 87.

It may be somewhat of a cliché to say it, but it increasingly appears as though this season's La Liga champion will be "the team who wants it the most". A title race like this seldom comes around - it could very well be the intangibles that end up making the difference.

Get ready for three of the most dramatic matchdays you've ever seen.

The Weekly Take, Issue 145: The Historic Season Nobody Is Talking About

This season, one team has thus far put together one of the all-time great league campaigns and in the process emerged as among the favourites to claim a first Champions League title in the club's history.

Yet, in spite of all of this, not many have paid much heed to this club's remarkable feats thus far. As has so often been the case with this club, their achievements this season have once again undeservedly ended up going under almost everyone's radar.

This club is Atlético Madrid; their remarkable La Liga campaign saw yet another victory this past matchday. Atlético registered a 2-1 victory over Granada, with Marcos Llorente and Ángel Correa scoring the two goals that extended Atlético's lead at the top of the league to eight points despite having played one match less.

To put into perspective just how dominant Atlético have been domestically, they are currently on pace for 98 points in the league. This total would be the fourth-highest of all time and the most since Barcelona had 100 in the 2012-13 season. In comparison, Premier League and Serie A leaders Manchester City and AC Milan are on pace for 88 and 85 respectively, while Bundesliga leaders would be on track to hit 91 points if the Bundesliga were played over 38 matches instead of 34.

In the Champions League, Atlético should face little to no difficulty in disposing of Chelsea in the round of 16. From that point forth, no team will want to face the club enjoying what might turn out to be the finest season they have ever had.

Looking at this current Atlético team, one name stands out. The primary reason for their success, the foundation on which this team is built, and the absolute force of nature who had made the Atlético goal an almost-impenetrable fortress is Jan Oblak. The Slovenian is far and away the best goalkeeper in the world and has been so for the majority of the past four years. Ever since Oblak became the club's starting goalkeeper at the beginning of the 2015-16 season, Atlético have averaged 0.65 goals conceded per match - an absolutely remarkable figure in the most attacker-friendly of Europe's four major football leagues. Atlético and Oblak have continued this goalkeeping excellence this season with 13 conceded in their 21 league matches to date. Oblak's mere presence between the posts gives Atlético such a boost that it's almost as though they start every match a goal ahead.

Up front, the 34-year-old Luis Suárez has kept Father Time at bay. The Uruguayan leads the league in goals scored with 16. His acquisition from Barça during the off-season has arguably been the factor most directly linked to Atlético's ascension this season. His arrival at the Wanda Metropolitano not only filled a void vacated by the departure of Antoine Griezmann over a year before; it also dealt a severe blow to the Catalan club's chances to win any silverware this season. Barcelona replaced Suárez by signing Francisco Trincão from Braga. Up to this point, the Portuguese striker has not lived up to his price tag of €31 million. Just to rub it in for Barça, Suárez left on a free transfer.

Perhaps at season's end, this will be the season in which Atlético head coach Diego Simeone finally gets the credit he so richly deserves. Since taking over at Atlético in 2011, Simeone has again and again taken the club to overachievement. However, his relative lack of titles belies his actual coaching skill; despite having just two major titles to his name during this time, the Argentinean is arguably the best coach on the planet today; the only coaches on his level are Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, and Zinedine Zidane. A Champions League title would make Simeone unquestionably the best coach in the world.

You can't say that many clubs deserve a season like this more than Atlético. This is a club which is superbly run from top to bottom and one in which everyone has truly bought into the system. Despite their relative lack of financial might in comparison to many of their direct rivals, Atlético have once again shown that it can still be done "the right way".

Quietly impressive though they may have been, their success speaks louder than any media attention ever could.

The Weekly Take, Issue 129: Has the Magic Run Out?

When the draw for this season's UEFA Champions League was released, one of the fixtures which caught the attention of many was the match between reigning champions Bayern Munich and perennial title contenders Atlético Madrid. However, despite the expectations heading into the first matchday of the tournament, not many could have predicted just how one-sided this match would be.

In a dominant display that illustrated why they are the defending champions and clearly the team to beat this season, Bayern utterly torched Atlético, beating the Madrid club 4-0. Kingsley Coman scored two goals, while Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso also made their way onto the scoresheet.

This was an unexpected result because not only are Atlético typically in the mix for the title; they have also been the gold standard for overachievement with limited resources for the past decade. Despite their relative lack of financial might and glamour when compared to many of Europe's other leading clubs, Atlético have been very competitive over the past 10 years and were just minutes away from what would've been a legendary first Champions League title over city rivals Real Madrid in 2014.

During the past off-season, Atlético even managed to land the services of former Barcelona legend Luis Suárez. After a glittering six-year run in Catalonia, the arrival of new head coach Ronald Koeman saw the Uruguayan forced out of Camp Nou, leaving Atlético free to take advantage and make one of the biggest signings in club history.

However, the way that events transpired proved to be worrying for Atlético. Although they have outperformed expectations for many years now, at some point they will no longer be able to keep it up. Sadly for fans of Los Rojiblancos, their heavy loss in Bavaria may have shown that this could be the year when it all comes crashing down.

Atlético were not even remotely a threat throughout the match. While it is true that their German opponents were clearly the superior team, one would nevertheless have expected a far better performance out of Diego Simeone's team. It is clear that this iteration of Atlético Madrid is nowhere near the level of their 2013-17 team.

For years, Atlético have been able to handle departures of players such as Diego Forlán, Sergio Agüero, Fernando Torres, Thibaut Courtois, and Antoine Griezmann without letting these departures have a severely negative impact on the team's performance. However, this may very well be coming to an end soon. Atlético have already begun to show signs of decline, especially over the past two seasons.

Although Atlético finished second in La Liga in the 2018-19 season, they did so with just 76 points. This tally represented their lowest in six years. They also failed to qualify for both the Copa del Rey and Champions League quarterfinals; this had not happened to them since 2007. Last season, their league points total of 70 was their lowest since 2012. They were also eliminated from the Copa del Rey in the round of 32 and the Champions League in the quarterfinals.

This is a team of which much more than what they have produced thus far was expected at the beginning of the season. They have by far the world's best goalkeeper in Jan Oblak. Apart from Suárez, their squad also boasts the likes of Kieran Trippier, Ángel Correa, João Félix, Saúl Ñíguez, and Yannick Carrasco, among others. Add in iconic head coach Simeone in the dugout, and you have a team which should on paper be one of the top seven or eight in Europe.

It might very well appear that the law of averages has finally caught up to Atlético. Their entire club - front office, scouting, coaching staff, players, everyone, really - has been a role model for every other football club in the world in virtually every way. However, given their limited resources when compared to their rivals at the top table, they might no longer be able to defy the odds as they have done so valiantly for so long.

Make no mistake about it - the Atlético Madrid team of 2011 until the present day will be remembered with the greatest fondness even decades from now. If the club is appropriately grateful, someday a statue of Simeone should proudly guard the front gate of the Wanda Metropolitano.

That being said, we might be witnessing the beginning of the end - and maybe a subsequent rebuild.

The Weekly Take, Issue 81: A True Role Model for All Football Clubs

This season's Champions League has now begun, and one of the standout fixtures of its first matchday was the match between Atlético Madrid and Juventus. Juve opened up a two-goal lead over the Madrid club through goals scored by Juan Cuadrado and Blaise Matuidi, but Stefan Savić pulled one back for Atlético before Héctor Herrera's stoppage-time equaliser ensured that Atlético would complete the comeback and finish with a well-earned draw.

This match epitomized what Atlético have been all about for the last decade. This is a team that simply refuses to accept defeat and who have overcome so many tremendous challenges that would have broken almost any other club. Over this period, Atlético have seen superstars such as Diego Forlán, Sergio Agüero, Radamel Falcao, Thibaut Courtois, and most recently Antoine Griezmann leave the Vicente Calderón (or in Griezmann's case, the Wanda Metropolitano). They have also operated with a significantly lower budget than those of fellow La Liga powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona, not to mention those of other Champions League title contenders such as Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, among others.

Yet, despite these setbacks and disadvantages, Atlético have been perennial contenders both domestically and in the Champions League alike. But just how have they done it?

One key element of Atlético's success has been player scouting and development.

When Atlético signed Jan Oblak in 2014, he had never played a league game in a major league at the time. He had also been loaned out four times, each time to a relatively minor Portuguese club. Five years on, the Slovenian is definitely among the five best, and arguably the three best, goalkeepers in the world.

Oblak's predecessor Courtois was signed on a three-year loan deal from Chelsea, for whom he never played a league game until his return from his stint in the Spanish capital. Atlético, of course, turned a benchwarmer into the best goalkeeper on the planet.

It's not just goalkeepers. During his time at Real Sociedad, Griezmann was seen as an exciting young prospect, but very few foresaw him reaching the heights which he eventually did. However, Atlético recognized how great he would someday become. Not only did they sign him when no other club was chasing his services, but they also managed to develop his talent to a point which resulted in his becoming a genuine Ballon d'Or contender.

It also helps that Atlético have perhaps the best head coach on the planet in the dugout.

Year in and year out, Diego Simeone has led Atlético to overachievement relative to the amount of money they have at their disposal. They have emerged as one of world football's leading teams not through star power, not through money, and not even through a historic past. Simeone has helped Atlético do it through grit, willpower, character, strategy, and intelligence. The tactical brilliance of "El Cholo" has been evident over his eight years in charge of Atlético and was never more obvious than in the 2013-14 season, when Atlético stunned Barcelona and Real Madrid to win La Liga, then came so close to winning their first Champions League title before being denied at the death by city rivals Real.

Atlético's signings have also been astute and well-planned. Unlike some other clubs which just sign the splashiest names for the most expensive prices without considering how they fit into the team, Atlético's front office clearly puts much thought into their signings. Signings over recent years such as Rodri, Savić, Kieran Trippier, and even more expensive ones such as Thomas Lemar were all made with how they would contribute to the team and its general strategy in mind.

I'll just go ahead and say it: Atlético Madrid are the best-run football club in the world. No other club has its combination of coaching, player development, team chemistry, transfer market savvy, scouting, and financial management while also performing at a world-class level and being constant contenders to win the Champions League. If European football were like the NFL or NBA and had a salary cap, I firmly believe that Atlético would have won between three and six of the last 10 Champions Leagues.

If any team ever deserved a Champions League title, it has to be Atlético Madrid.

The Weekly Take, Issue 71: Absolutely Pathetic

I’m not holding back at all this week.

The player I’m writing about has forever sullied his legacy by making the weakest transfer move I have ever witnessed.

This player is a perennial Ballon d’Or contender, the MVP and top scorer of Euro 2016, a World Cup champion who was third in the tournament’s MVP rankings, arguably the world’s best player at his position, and had been the best player on one of the best club teams on the planet.

So what does he do?

Of course, he chooses to run away from the challenges he is faced with and join forces with an immediate rival, both domestically and in the Champions League.

As great of a player as he is, I am so appalled by this transfer that after I mention his name for the first time, I will not do so for the rest of the post. I will channel my inner Skip Bayless and refer to him by his jersey number.

You might already have guessed that I’m referring to Antoine Griezmann, who has just left Atlético Madrid for Barcelona. It cost Barça €120 million, the fifth-highest transfer fee of all time, to land #17.

However, that’s irrelevant. #17 forced his way out of the Wanda Metropolitano, making a transfer request after spending five years at the Madrid club.

Despite clearly having the game and the squad around him to be able to lead Atlético to the top, the man from Bourgogne chose to take the easy way out, joining forces with a direct rival and teaming up with Leo Messi and company.

Here are the reasons as to why I consider #17’s move to Catalonia to be truly pathetic.

1) He was already on a genuine Champions League contender.

Over the five seasons that #17 was at Atlético, the club was never ranked lower than sixth in pre-tournament club coefficient. What’s more, they were ranked second before last season’s campaign, while Barça had been ranked fourth. They also generally lived up to expectations, reaching the quarterfinals in 2015, final in 2016, and semifinals in 2017. Since Atlético were already among the title contenders with #17 on their roster, it’s obvious that he chose the easy way out.

2) His motives were different.

Consider the other major transfers of the current off-season.

João Felix, Frenkie de Jong, Lucas Hernandez, and Luka Jović are all young players trying to break out as superstars at a major club.

Eden Hazard wanted to escape the toxic, dysfunctional, untenable atmosphere at Chelsea.

#17 is in the prime of his career at 28 and had been playing for perhaps the best-run club in the world. He simply wanted to ride Messi’s coattails to an easy Champions League title.

3) He signed for a team which has recently bested his own team often.

Over the five years during which #17 was at Atlético, they twice finished second behind Barça in La Liga. In fact, during this time, Atlético never finished ahead of the Catalan club in the league. They were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Barça twice.

Thus, it’s a really bad look for him to sign for Barça.

4) There were no other reasons for him to leave.

Star player for a superbly-run Champions League contender? Check.

Lucrative endorsement deals? Check.

Enormous salary? Check.

Big-market team in a place with a favourable lifestyle? Check.

He was in what was close to an ideal situation – and left anyway.

The only other transfer I can think of that exhibited this level of mental weakness was Luís Figo’s departure from Barça to then-reigning Champions League champions Real Madrid, a transfer which marked the beginning of Real’s iconic “Galácticos” era.

For what it’s worth, I cannot wait for Barça’s next away match against Atlético.

Certainly, every time #17 touches the ball, the Atlético fans will unleash every last bit of their pent-up rage and frustration on their former ace who turned his back on them. They will surely greet him with a fusillade of richly-deserved boos, jeers, and heckles.

Regardless of the outcome of that match, it will definitely be something extraordinary to witness, and an Atlético win would be especially sweet - #17 will have received his due comeuppance.

The Weekly Take, Issue 49: A Promising Season Going Off the Rails

The Madrid derby is one of world football’s most hotly-contested matches. Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are already two of the best teams on the planet, and the fact that they are city rivals adds another layer of intrigue to the clash.

In the latest instalment of this classic rivalry, Real triumphed over the 10 men of Atlético, winning 3-1. Although Thomas Partey’s red card came late on, it sealed Atlético’s fate, extinguishing any chance of a comeback.

Less than a month ago, Atlético’s season was in a far better position than it is in now.

They were second in La Liga and closing in on leaders Barcelona, in the last 16 of the Champions League, and heading into the second leg of what should have been a straightforward Copa del Rey victory against Girona.

Since then, Atlético have surrendered second place in the league to their resurgent city rivals, were knocked out of the Copa del Rey on away goals by drawing 3-3 in that Girona match, and now seem unlikely to beat Juventus and advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.

So just how did things start going wrong?

One area that deserves criticism is Atlético’s attack. Outside of Antoine Griezmann, Atlético have been truly abysmal up front for a team of their standing. Thus far this season, they have very much been carried by their defense and Griezmann.

Atlético have scored 55 goals in all competitions this season, having played 34 games. This ratio is far lower than those of every other top team in Europe. What is even more damning, however, is the extent to which Atlético depend on Griezmann to shoulder the team’s goalscoring load.

Griezmann is by far Atlético’s leading goalscorer, with 17 this season. The team’s next-highest goalscorer is Koke, who has five. It gets even worse if you restrict this statistic to just La Liga matches. Griezmann has scored 11 of Atlético’s 33 La Liga goals. No other player has more than two. Players such as Nikola Kalinić, Ángel Correa, and Diego Costa have been extremely disappointing. To put this into perspective: if “own goals scored by the opposing team” were a player, it would be tied for being Atlético’s second-highest league goalscorer.

Atlético even failed to deal with this issue properly during the recent transfer window. Instead of going after an in-form striker or someone who has a good goalscoring track record, they picked up Álvaro Morata on loan. Over his career, Morata has only broken double figures in a major league twice, has scored just 56 career major-league goals over almost nine seasons, and was in the midst of a brutal goalscoring slump. Hence, this signing was a rather perplexing one.

Atlético’s away form is also a cause for concern.

If only away matches counted, Atlético would only be fifth in La Liga. Even worse than that is this fact: among teams in Europe’s four major leagues, as of this article, Atlético rank 26th in points per away game.

Clearly, for a team like Atlético, that’s simply not good enough.

While all teams typically play better at home, Atlético’s struggles on the road are at a level one does not expect for a team expected to be challenging for the Champions League.

By not making any major signings during this transfer window, I honestly think they have missed their last chance to mount a serious La Liga or Champions League title bid this season.

As presently constructed, this roster is too unbalanced to land Atlético either title. While Diego Simeone is arguably the best coach in the world, Jan Oblak and Griezmann are genuine superstars, and their defense has been excellent, for whatever reason, their season is falling off the rails.

I have always lauded Atlético’s front office and the outstanding job they have done for the last decade or so. However, that is not the case this season. They overpaid for Thomas Lemar and signed Kalinić and Morata when better players were available. Other than the signing of Rodri, for once, Atlético failed to get it right in the transfer market.

A team can have an amazing coach, two world-class stars, a glamorous market, and significant (though in this case, not exorbitant) wealth, but that all counts for nothing without the right supporting cast, as Atlético Madrid are now finding out.

The Weekly Take, Issue 30: Snub of the Year

The FIFPro World XI, comprising the players deemed to have been the world’s best at their position over the last year, has been named. Some of the world’s biggest football stars, such as David de Gea, Raphaël Varane, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and newly-crowned FIFA player of the year Luka Modrić, were all named to the team, and deservedly so, for they have all truly excelled over the course of the year.

However, this year’s team contains one glaring omission.

This player was the star of a team that finished second in a major European league and also won the Europa League.

Despite not being a pure target man, he scored 29 goals in all competitions for his club, including 19 in the league.

He also played an extremely important role in his country’s World Cup run and was man of the match in the final. He also won the Bronze Ball at the tournament.

This player is Antoine Griezmann.

Those of you who have followed my column from its inception may remember that the first thing I ever wrote was about how underrated Griezmann’s club, Atlético Madrid, is. In that sense, it is somewhat apt that Griezmann was overlooked for a spot on the team of the year.

Nevertheless, it is clear that Griezmann deserves the honour.

The two wingers selected to the team were Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappé.

Now, with Mbappé, it’s an interesting comparison. Both Griezmann and Mbappé were absolutely essential to France’s World Cup triumph. The duo combined for eight goals and two assists during the tournament. Mbappé also won the Best Young Player award.

At club level, it is also fairly close. While Mbappé’s PSG team did win a league and cup double, Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France are significantly less competitive than La Liga and the Copa del Rey. PSG also failed to make a deep Champions League run. However, while Atlético did win the Europa League, it’s not even close to the level of difficulty of the Champions League.

It is also close from a statistical standpoint, as Mbappé managed 21 goals from 44 appearances.

However, this number must be contextualised: as I said, Mbappé plays in a much less competitive league than Griezmann does. Although Mbappé has the higher ceiling, given the fact that he is still only 19 years old, it cannot be definitively said that he is a better player than Griezmann right now. Regardless, you could easily make a case for either being on the FIFPro team.

Now we come to Hazard.

As great a player as Eden Hazard is, he has absolutely no business being selected ahead of Griezmann.

Hazard’s Chelsea team were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 and only finished fifth in the Premier League, missing out of Champions League qualification. Hazard’s form had also been fairly inconsistent during certain parts of the season.

At the World Cup, Griezmann’s France knocked out Hazard’s Belgium in the semifinals. The only area in which Hazard could conceivably be said to have been ahead of Griezmann was the fact that Hazard won the Silver Ball at the World Cup. However, as has been mentioned, Griezmann won the Bronze Ball, so this small advantage in favour of Hazard should not even have been close to enough to overhaul the advantage that Griezmann had already built up.

Honestly, the biggest reason why Griezmann was snubbed was because he plays for Atlético. Had he achieved what he did for a more well-known club, there is a significant chance that he would have made the team over Hazard, Mbappé, or perhaps even both.

Nevertheless, what Griezmann needs to do in the coming season is use this snub to fuel his inner fire and show the voters how wrong they were to exclude him.

We have already seen what he is capable of under normal circumstances, but an angry yet motivated Griezmann could really take his game to the next level.

Should Griezmann go on a successful “revenge tour”, he could end up being the catalyst for a campaign in which Atlético might even win La Liga or the Champions League, and though it may be unlikely, he could perhaps even lead them to a double.