Atletico gained momentum by February after December’s turbulence. However, due to yesterday’s draw with Real Madrid (1:1), their five-game winning streak was interrupted. The “Mattresses” outperformed the “Whites” only in corner kicks (8:2). Although other indicators were at a decent level (46% possession, 1.12 xG against 1.62, and five shots on target). Marcos Llorente scored a crucial goal after a lackluster period, and Antoine Griezmann’s goalless streak has reached five matches. Overall, Diego Simeone’s team is gradually shifting to a more cautious playing style, as otherwise, their chances of advancing past Inter in the Champions League would be limited. A significant catalyst for returning to the previous concept is the only major signing for the “capital” team in the winter transfer window: for €18 million, they acquired the promising Arthur Vermeren from Antwerp, capable of performing a colossal workload in the midfield.
Athletic, on the other hand, makes significant purchases very rarely, which doesn’t prevent them from demonstrating excellent football. For the first time in a long time, the team has an excellent chance to qualify for European competitions. Especially considering that almost all direct competitors are far from their peak. The “Red and Whites” recently thrashed Mallorca at home (4:0), possessing a huge advantage in every key parameter (2.10 xG against 0.38 and 62% possession). Moreover, the injuries in Ernesto Valverde’s squad are short-term, which also positively influences the overall prospects.
