Atleti Seeks to Reverse the Dynamic After a Complicated March
Atlético de Madrid faced March with optimism, competing in all competitions, something unusual in recent years with Simeone. February closed with an exciting draw against Barcelona in the first leg of the semi-finals, instilling morale in the team for the return leg at the Metropolitano.
March began with a narrow victory at home against Athletic Club, consolidating second place in LaLiga, one point behind leaders Barcelona, thanks to Julián Alvarez’s goal. However, the month was complicated by the 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
Despite maintaining hope for the return leg, a visit to Getafe resulted in a painful comeback by the local team in the final minutes. The hardest blow came in the Champions League return leg: an insufficient victory and elimination on penalties after a controversial refereeing decision.
The team’s morale suffered, and the 2-4 defeat against Barcelona, after leading 2-0, highlighted a physical decline. The draw against Espanyol at the end of the month further distanced Atleti from the fight for LaLiga. Two wins, a draw and three defeats marked a difficult March.
To make matters worse, April began with elimination in the return leg of the Copa del Rey at the hands of Barcelona, leaving the Club World Cup as the only hope of lifting a title this season. Despite the setbacks, the fans are confident in the team’s ability to rebound and fight for what remains at stake.