Atlético de Madrid at the limit
After coming up short in another comeback, Atlético de Madrid pays the price of trying to fight for the top spot in LaLiga while securing the ’top 8’ in the Champions League and advancing in the Copa.
The presence of Griezmann, De Paul and Giménez on the bench in the match against Villarreal already indicated that, despite the fact that Atlético has signed the best winning streak (15) in its history with practically the same team, the gasoline, the legs and the mind have a limit.
However, Simeone’s men have also found that the attempt to stay at the top of LaLiga while securing their journey to the ’top 8’ of the Champions League and advancing in the Copa rounds also leaves no room for error.
A tightrope walk that had already had a warning in the previous round, when Leganés knocked the red and whites out of the top spot in LaLiga. However, despite the fact that the first to put the situation in jeopardy was Sánchez Martínez by signaling a controversial penalty, Atlético would still attempt the ninth comeback of the season. It would come up short, just as it did in the derby, but at least it would make it clear that, pending determining how far its strength and depth go to fight for the conquest of LaLiga, the Champions League and the Copa, the competitive spirit will not be lacking.
