After a poor start for Atlético Madrid’s strikers in the 2015-16 La Liga season, Diego Simeone will hope the encounter against Real Sociedad is the perfect opportunity for his players to regain confidence in front of goal.
This weekend, Atlético Madrid travel to San Sebastián in a game Simeone will see as crucial with a vital three points up for grabs. After playing seven matches and losing against surprise league leaders Villarreal and last season’s La Liga winners FC Barcelona as well as drawing against local rivals Real Madrid, Simeone’s Atléti have already dropped vital points against sides competing for the league title. Fortunately for the 2013-14 league champions, the surprisingly competitive opening to La Liga this season has seen the four teams above Atléti also drop points, leaving Los Rojiblancos a respectable three points away from pacesetters Villarreal.
David Moyes’ Real Sociedad are currently hovering dangerously above the relegation zone after seven matches, winning only one match so far this season. Their struggles will give Simeone confidence of his side’s ability to muster three vital points to maintain pressure with their league rivals. More importantly, however, is that this match comes at a perfect time for his attacking players. This season, the Argentinian gaffer has opted to experiment and rotate his striking options. From his favoured 4-4-2 formation to a more attacking 4-3-3, Simeone has looked to find the perfect strategy to feature his new-found striking depth.
Before the season began, optimism was high due to the Madrid side’s busy transfer business, particularly with strikers Jackson Martínez and Luciano Vietto signing on as well as the return of Ángel Correa following his heart surgery. Simeone has plenty of options in attack with star striker Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres also readily available; fans believed Atléti had a forward line possible of matching the feared trios of Barcelona and Real Madrd: Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. But after seven games, Atléti have seen a mixed bag from the forwards.
Last season’s club leading goalscorer Griezmann has netted a respectable three goals so far this campaign, three shy of fellow French teammate and current leading La Liga goalscorer Benzema. The €30 million signing of last summer has only scored once against a side that has competed directly with Atléti. Against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla, Griezmann has featured in 18 games in all competitions yet only scored against Madrid, the third goal in their famous 4-0 triumph last season.
Against elite competition, Griezmann has not been as effective as he has been against weaker sides. His three goals this campaign have come against newly-promoted Las Palmas and Getafe. His penalty in the Madrid Derby, which was brilliantly saved by Keylor Navas, further represents a poor run against the best of the best. Simply put, the Frenchman needs to be more threatening in front of goal.
Fernando Torres, who has featured predominantly in higher profile fixtures this season, has seen a return of two goals, including a brilliant chip against Eibar and a neat strike after a typical Torres run against rivals Barcelona. Yet unlike Griezmann, Torres has shown up in big matches since his return to his boyhood club. Last season, Torres scored against both Barcelona and Real Madrid, effectively as a third-choice striker.
But after an impressive and promising preseason, Torres has been handed more chances to prove his worth with his loan deal extended until the end of the season. With more minutes in La Liga than any other striker besides Griezmann, Torres’ goal tally highlights inconsistency which has blighted Simeone’s side this season. While his finishing this campaign has been hit and miss, Torres’ link-up play with fellow forwards Griezmann and Correa have given Atléti hope of finding form sooner rather than later.
Torres’ main rival for the number nine spot, Martínez, has so far failed to impress since his hefty €35 million transfer from FC Porto with the manager, teammates and club president all coming out to support the new man, pleading for patience as the striker finds his feet in his new surroundings. So far, the Colombian international has been struggling considerably in front of goals, having scored only once and, while the goal was of the highest standard, it was icing on an already cooked Sevilla cake. His poor run in front of goal was best showcased against Benfica in the Champions League. His header that could have put Atléti 2-0 up hit the post and saw the Portuguese outfit come back into the game, eventually winning 2-1.
Like Torres, Martínez has shown he can be useful, but on too many occasions has looked on a different wavelength to his teammates. Fellow summer signing Vietto was always seen as a signing for the future and, if not for the impressive Correa exploding onto the scene, would have most definitely seen more minutes in the opening seven games. Vietto’s goal against Real Madrid will be a huge personal confidence booster. The young Argentine showcased great awareness and predatory extinct to dramatically level the score late, attributes which have been sorely missing of late for Atléti.
This weekend’s fixture presents a perfect opportunity for Simeone to cement his preferred striking partnership and build confidence in his team. Vietto has recently undergone appendicitis surgery which will see the youngster sidelined for at least four weeks. His absence gives Griezmann, Torres and Martínez the chance to jump-start their season and build up their lacking confidence in front of goal. The time has come for Simeone’s charges to show their prowess in front of goal – it is becoming a real concern for Atléti.
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