The Final Third : Atletico Madrid Eye Golden Chance
This feature is part of Dare Football's ongoing series entitled The Final Third which previews each of the top teams ahead of the European season. For more Final Third features, click here
Akshay Jayachandran
Fresh of winning their first title in four years with last season's Europa League, Atletico Madrid is ready to launch another assault n the elusive Champions League crown. With Antoine Greizmann declining the opwn overturess of Barcelona and staying at the Metropiltano, Atleti is looking stronger than ever.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
With both Real Madrid and Barcelona set to go through a season of transition Atleti is well placed for a title challenge both at home and in the continent. Real has lost their talisman in Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. They will need a real team effort to replace the 50 goals Ronaldo had guaranteed to score. Barcelona really over achieved last season. Their team is neither balanced nor powerful to simultaneously perform well in Spain and in Europe. Bayern Munich looks to be a shadow of the team that won the 2013 Champions League and PSG is still to show a European pedigree. Of the rest, Juventus, Manchester City and Liverpool will be threats but Atleti will be confident that they can beat anyone on their day.
Atleti has added some much-needed firepower in attack to their water-tight defense. The mood at the Metropolitano is expectant. Last season's Europa League was a first ever senior title for many at the club including for Antoine Greizmann. The Atleti faithful will believe that this will be the year they finally take home that Champions League title.
TRANSFERS
Ahead of 2018/19 season, Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone seems eager to continue counting on a small squad. There are only 19 players in the first team as of now. There will be more transfers to follow, but these players at the club will be the core he will use this season. Celta Vigo defender Jinny Castro and ex-Sporting star Gelson Martinez continue to be linked with transfers.
With a settled back line Atleti's focus this season was to strengthen an attack that scored only 58 goals in La Liga. By convincing Antoine Griezmann to stay and signing new attacking midfielders Rodrigo Hernandez and Thomas Lemar, Atleti has ensured that they will be more dangerous on the attack .
Having played together for France for years, Greizmann and Lemar know can read each other perfectly.
Diego Simeone's style of football and his tactics is well known, yet their opponents have consistently found it difficult to beak through the Los Colcheronos ranks. It was the same last season as the Rojiblancos were typically resolute in defense in Simeone's preferred formation of 4-4-2. However Atleti had lost their wingers Yannick Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan to Chinese club Daliang Yifang during last season. It took away some of the unpredictability in attack.
It was vital for the club to sign a replacement for Carrasco this year. Simeone obliged by signing 22 year old Thomas Lemar from AS Monaco. Thomas Lemar is the club's most expensive player at €60 million and was a part of Les Bleus history making squad in world cup 2018. He will bring real pace and urgency in the attack and will be vital in stretching the opposition. Predominantly left footed, Lemar can cross the ball excellently. He is also a threat from set-pieces. His excellent chemistry with Greizmann will be vital for Atleti.
Also another young talented 22 year old Rodri from Villareal. Rodrigo spent five years in various age categories of Atleti until before he went to Villareal. He has matured as a player since and is valued €25 million on his return.
Another transfer for Atletico Madrid is the backup goal keeper Adrian Adan from Real Betis. The former Real Madrid youth product made 85 saves in last season and impressed Simeone. It will be a great chance for him to show his excellence as Atletico have manufactured many world class goalkeepers including David de Gea, Thibaut Courtois and Jan Oblak.
Tactics
The biggest confidence of Atletico Madrid this year is the players massive performance in the world cup. Four players from the mattress makers played in world cup finals most by any club in the world. Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Lucas Hernandez represented in world champions France squad. Atletico right back Sime Vrsaljko represented Croatia.
Arguably the best defender in the world cup Diego Godin and his Uruguay partner Jose Gimenez, who has extended his contract for Atleti until 2023 will remain as a solid center back pair for Los Colchoneros. Left back Lucas Hernandez showed his excellence in the World Cup and will be rearing to go at the Metropolitano. His tussle with Filipe Luis to own the left back spot will be interesting to watch. Lucas can also double up as a centreback which will be vital in Atleti's small squad.
In the midfield, captain Gabi has moved to Qatar. Spanish star Saul Niguez will take over his position aided by the reigning Ghana Player of the Year Thomas Partey. Both players are young and will support the defense when needed.
After a proper preseason Diego Costa is all set to terrorize opposition defenders.
Koke is the heartbeat of the Atletico midfield and is tied down until 2024. He will be tasked with role of chief creator once again. Thomas Lemar will play in the left wing and Rodrigo on the other side. Another midfield option is Vitolo. After an often tumultuous season, he can look forward to be a fresh start in his full season under Simeone. But Thomas Lemar's arrival from Monaco Simeone can set his midfield in a variety of ways and this may force Vitolo to play out of position.
In the attack, Simeone will surely be planning to partner Diego Costa with Antonio Griezmann. Angel Correa is another option in attack. Kevin Gameiro is heavily linked with Valencia and Luciano Vietto is also likely to leave Metropolitano . AC Milan striker Nicolas Kalinic and Chelsea forward Olivier Giriud are both linked with the Red and Whites. Both are physical strikers and will replace Fernando Torres. Its been a golden year for the superstar Antonio Griezmann winning the world cup and europa league. The Frenchman was heavily linked with Barcelona this season but decided to stay at Atleti with the main aim of winning champions league.
The preparations for this has already been a much more stable one that the previous years and the benefits of that are likely to be clear to see once the season begins. Atleti will beleve that this year they are going to break their Champions League curse.
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