In my earlier column I wrote about Atletico Madrid’s ‘disappointing’ season. We will now change that to ‘catastrophic’ after they suffered their seventh defeat of the season, 1-0 at dwelling to bottom-of-the-table Levante within the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday.
Outplayed Atletico managed only one shot on track in 90 minutes in opposition to statistically one of many worst groups to have ever performed in La Liga. It was solely Levante’s second victory of the season, previous to which that they had solely gained one recreation since final April.
That they had the undesirable La Liga report of most successive matches with out a win, going again 27 video games over the course of final season and the present marketing campaign, and this beautiful victory nonetheless leaves them ten factors from security. They've had three managers this season and appeared to have given up hope of staying within the prime flight by solely making one free switch signing within the winter window.
Latest outcomes embody defeats in opposition to two groups simply above them within the division — Getafe and Cadiz — and a 4-2 dwelling defeat through which high-flying Actual Betis barely broke sweat.
No one gave them a prayer of including to their measly whole of 11 factors on Wednesday, regardless of Atletico’s trials and tribulations.
To stress how badly Atletico’s title defence has gone incorrect, the three objectives conceded as they scraped previous Getafe 4-3 on the weekend meant they've conceded extra objectives than in any of Diego Simeone’s different 11 seasons in cost, and there are 15 video games nonetheless to play.
They rank twelfth within the division when it comes to objectives conceded, they discover themselves 15 factors behind top-of-the-table Actual Madrid and face a real battle to complete within the prime 4.
Above them Actual Madrid and Sevilla are out of attain, third-placed Betis are flying, led by the tremendous proficient Nabil Fekir, Barcelona are enhancing quickly and Villarreal, who're simply behind Atletico, look a much better group proper now. Simeone has tinkered massively when it comes to techniques and group choice this season, an accusation he accepted after Wednesday’s defeat.
He defined none of his tried adjustments for the higher had labored so any further he would return to his fundamental fundamentals and hope his gamers would comply with go well with. Will we see a distinction after they face Manchester United within the Champions League subsequent Wednesday?
Elsewhere, there was an inflow of gamers swapping the Premier League for a stint in La Liga and most have made a very good begin.
Anthony Martial has made a gentle begin at Sevilla with out having a large affect, likewise Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Barcelona.
Adama Traore has arguably been Barca’s finest participant in his opening two video games whereas Giovani Lo Celso performed effectively in opposition to Actual Madrid on his full Villarreal debut within the No.10 position, however it's one other Tottenham loanee who has made the most important affect.
Bryan Gil has lit up La Liga on his return and is starring at Valencia. Comparisons have been made between him and former Valencia legend Pablo Aimar and followers have fallen in love with him already with calls to make him a everlasting signing. Alas, I don’t assume they'll afford him. As a fan and former participant of Spurs, I sincerely hope they'll’t.
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