Witsel: A Reduced Role in the New Atlético?

Axel Witsel, a key player in recent seasons, is experiencing a change in his role within Atlético de Madrid. The Belgian, who arrived as a midfielder and was converted by Simeone into a valuable central defender in a back-five, now sees his minutes reduced after the tactical shift to a four-man defense.

Witsel was fundamental in the previous two campaigns, prolonging his career and becoming a trusted man for Cholo. This season, he started with an important role, starting in several matches, including games against Villarreal and Espanyol.

However, his participation has decreased since the match against PSG in the Champions League. After that match, Witsel has participated in seven games, starting only four, mainly due to rotations in matches against Alavés, Cacereño, Elche and Villarreal.

His situation has become even more complicated with the availability of Giménez, Le Normand and Lenglet. In February and March, his minutes have been practically non-existent, a trend that seems difficult to reverse, especially after Atlético’s elimination in the Champions League. Despite this, the Rojiblancos fans recognize Witsel’s dedication and effort, hoping that his experience can be valuable in the future.

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Atleti Women: Defending Champions League Spot in Zubieta

Atlético de Madrid Women face a crucial visit to San Sebastián to take on Real Sociedad. The match, which will be broadcast on DAZN and Movistar Plus 2, is vital to secure third place, which grants the right to compete in the Champions League qualifying round next season.

Víctor Martín’s players are one point ahead of Athletic Club and face a Real Sociedad side that is five points behind. A Rojiblanca victory would practically rule out the Donostiarras in the fight for Europe.

Despite reaching the Copa de la Reina final, Atleti have shown inconsistency in the League, especially in the last seven matches, where draws against teams in the lower zone have subtracted important points. The lack of goals has been a determining factor.

The match will have a special meaning for José Luis Sánchez Vera, the current coach of Real Sociedad, who was the last coach to win a League title with Atlético de Madrid. It will also be an emotional match for Jensen, a Norwegian player who defended the colors of Real Sociedad for three seasons.

Her knowledge of Zubieta could be a factor in favor of Atleti, although her continuity in the starting eleven is not guaranteed. Real Sociedad is also not going through its best moment, accumulating a run of adverse results since its last victory on February 1st. This clash is presented as a battle of survival between two teams in need of a victory to straighten the course.

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Rojiblanco B Team: Ambition and Work Match by Match

Fernando Torres, coach of Atlético de Madrid B, analyzed his team’s goalless draw against Betis Deportivo at the Metropolitano. He thanked the support of the 12,000 fans present, regretting not being able to offer them the victory.

He described the match as disputed and even, acknowledging his team’s lack of final success, although he highlighted the defensive solidity shown. Torres valued the irregularity of the game, common in the youth teams, and how the changes introduced brought energy and new offensive options.

He emphasized the difficulty of the matches in the category, where the difference is usually minimal, and the importance of the team’s defensive reliability. Regarding the young Esquivel, Torres was very happy about his return after an injury, highlighting his high level and confidence in the game, predicting a bright future for him.

Finally, Torres stressed that the main objective is not the playoff, but to improve match by match and be ambitious, maintaining focus on the next rival: Algeciras. He stressed the importance of taking care of the position in the table as a consequence of work well done.

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Sorloth and Haaland Lead Norway's Rout

What a match for our Norwegian stars! Alexander Sorloth, our striker, along with Haaland and Odegaard, led Norway to a resounding victory on their way to the 2026 World Cup. The Nordic team showed no mercy to Moldova, demonstrating an offensive power that excites all their fans.

The match, played in Moldova, ended with a resounding 0-5. Ryerson opened the scoring taking advantage of a defensive error, but the Odegaard-Haaland connection soon appeared to extend the lead.

The Manchester City striker continues to demonstrate his goalscoring instinct, consolidating himself as the top scorer in his national team’s history with an impressive average.

But the joy didn’t end there, because our Sorloth also made his presence felt on the scoreboard! The Atlético striker, demonstrating his great form, impeccably headed a corner taken by Odegaard, making it 0-4 before halftime.

What a goal! In the second half, with the game already decided, Donnum closed the rout. Sorloth and Haaland were substituted, receiving a well-deserved ovation after their great performance. Without a doubt, a victory that fills us with pride and allows us to dream of seeing our players at the 2026 World Cup. Keep it up, team!

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Atleti B: Draw with Record-Breaking Attendance at the Metropolitano

Atlético de Madrid B and Betis Deportivo drew (0-0) in a match played at the Metropolitano, where the Rojiblancos fans set a milestone with an attendance of 12,898 spectators, an absolute record for a youth team match.

The reserve team, managed by Fernando Torres, remains in fifth place, in the ‘play-off’ zone. In the first half, Atleti B dominated territorially and generated more opportunities, with an acrobatic shot by Martín in a corner and a shot by Rayane from the penalty spot after a good pass from Diego Bri.

Betis Deportivo, with an incisive Guirao, barely troubled the goal defended by Esquivel. After the break, Betis Deportivo came out with more ambition, even hitting the crossbar and forcing Esquivel to make a great save.

Rayane responded with an overhead kick that the rival goalkeeper caught. Fernando Torres moved the bench looking for more offensive bite. Atleti B regained control of the game, although without creating clear goal-scoring opportunities. Despite the final attempts, the score did not move. A valuable point for the Rojiblancos reserve team that continues to fight for the top spots.

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Griezmann: Time to Recharge and Shine Again

Antoine Griezmann, our ‘7’, is ready to return to his best form. Despite being the team’s second top scorer, with 16 goals, he has had a slight dip in recent matches. But we have full confidence in our star! Simeone continues to rely on him, fully convinced of his importance to the team.

This league break is perfect for him to recharge his batteries and disconnect from the demanding schedule. It’s the perfect time to prepare thoroughly for the remainder of the season. At Atlético, we are sure that Griezmann will shine again.

The team has great aspirations this season, such as fighting for the Copa del Rey and, why not, dreaming of LaLiga. The Frenchman is fully focused on regaining his sensations and his best physical condition during this break, working hard under Simeone’s orders.

While there is speculation about his future at the end of the season, with interest from Los Angeles Galaxy, Griezmann’s desire to win a title with Atlético remains an important factor. At the club, we understand his situation and have given him the freedom to choose his future. The important thing now is that he regains his best level and continues to delight us with his talent at the Metropolitano. Come on, Antoine, we are with you!

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Economic Sanction in Sight for Atlético after Champions League Derby

The recent Madrid derby at the Metropolitano, corresponding to the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, will bring economic consequences for our Atleti.

UEFA plans to impose a fine on the rojiblanco club as a result of an open file for the throwing of objects by a sector of the fans during the celebration of Real Madrid’s victory at the end of the match.

Although the exact amount of the sanction is still unknown, precedents such as the fines imposed on Olimpia Ljubljana and Bayern Munich for similar incidents offer an idea of what to expect.

Crucial will be the information provided by the UEFA delegate and the assessment of the images sent by the club, which show gestures of some Real Madrid players towards the stands during the celebration. The club hopes that these gestures will be taken into account to mitigate the sanction.

On the other hand, UEFA considers the issue of Julián Álvarez’s penalty to be completely closed. The highest European body issued a statement the day after the match making it clear that, according to its Disciplinary Code, the refereeing decisions taken on the field are final and cannot be reviewed, except in cases of mistaken identity. Despite this setback, we are confident that our team will overcome this obstacle and continue to fight with determination in the European competition!

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Giménez Backs Giuliano: A Standout Colchonero in Argentina

José María Giménez, captain of Uruguay, highlighted Giuliano Simeone’s performance after the match against Argentina. Despite Uruguay’s defeat (0-1), Giménez praised Simeone’s first start with the Argentine national team, underlining his energy and good performance.

The Uruguayan defender, Simeone’s teammate at Atlético de Madrid, stated that he is not surprised by the young Argentinian’s level, given his daily commitment at the club. ‘If you see him every day at Atlético, how he plays there, it shouldn’t surprise you that he starts for Argentina,’ Giménez commented. The match, marked by rivalry and moments of tension, stayed on the field according to Giménez, who added, ‘We are hot-blooded players, the game got a little heated at times, but everything stays on the field.’ Giménez acknowledged the difficulty of the match and congratulated Argentina on their decisive goal, concluding that the match ‘was decided by details’ and that now it’s time to focus on the next challenge.

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Julián Álvarez Speaks Out on Controversial Champions League Penalty

Julián Álvarez, Atlético de Madrid forward, has finally broken his silence on the controversial penalty disallowed by VAR in the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Real Madrid. The decision, which penalized Atlético, generated worldwide outrage and prompted a formal protest from the club to UEFA.

Following Argentina’s victory over Uruguay, where he started, Álvarez told ESPN that he has watched the penalty replay countless times and does not feel that he touched the ball twice. According to him, even if there had been a double touch, the contact would have been minimal and difficult to perceive.

Álvarez also expressed his opinion on the rule, pointing out that it should be clearer, as he did not try to gain any advantage. He compared the situation to a goalkeeper moving forward, which causes the penalty to be retaken.

The forward lamented what happened, especially since Atlético de Madrid was affected by such a questionable decision. In the locker room, immediately after the match, Álvarez had already assured his teammates that he did not feel that he had touched the ball twice. This incident did not prevent Álvarez from leading the Argentine national team in their victory against Uruguay, where he faced his Atlético teammate, José María Giménez.

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Atlético Connection Lights Up Argentina

Julián Álvarez and Giuliano Simeone, players with past at Atlético de Madrid, have proven to be a key duo for the Argentine national team. Their recent starting appearance at the Centenario, driven by several absenses in the team, highlighted the connection that both footballers share, bringing their understanding to the national team.

In the tactical scheme implemented by Lionel Scaloni, Álvarez played as a centre-forward, while Simeone occupied the right wing in a line of four.

Álvarez, with his tireless physical display, not only pressed and ran at defenders, but also created spaces for the arrivals of Simeone, Thiago Almada (author of the winning goal), Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister.

Simeone, for his part, perfectly fulfilled the role assigned by Scaloni, combining offensive projection with defensive retreat to support Nahuel Molina. The Cholo’s son came close to scoring on two occasions, but the opposing goalkeeper prevented him.

Scaloni’s words about Simeone reflect his importance in the team: a player committed in both phases of the game and with a promising future. It remains to be seen whether this football partnership will be repeated in the next match against Brazil. However, both Álvarez and Simeone have left a pleasant impression at the Centenario, filling Atlético de Madrid with pride.

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