Atlético de Madrid are one of the most exciting teams on paper following a busy transfer summer.
The arrivals of Robin Le Normand, Julián Álvarez, Conor Gallagher, and Alexander Sørloth signal the club’s intent to build a stronger squad following years of financial prudence. Alexander Sørloth also joined from Villarreal in an attempt to strengthen the attack, especially with Álvaro Morata’s departure to Italy.
Los Rojiblancos are one of the five remaining teams with an unbeaten record in La Liga, along with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal and Getafe. The clash against Valencia comes a week after a last-minute winner from Ángel Correa against Athletic Club.
The match revealed the glaring weaknesses in the transition of Atlético – which Diego Simeone will need to address, particularly in upcoming matches like the one against Valencia. Atlético de Madrid failed to find the back of the net against Espanyol two weeks ago in a goalless draw. The only convincing game so far was the game against Girona (3-0).
Although most pundits wouldn’t talk about a crisis just yet (at the beginning of the season, most teams look rusty), Diego Simeone’s team has been warned that they have to improve their focus and sharpness compared to their performances in the past weeks.
Generally, things have never looked bright for Valencia since Peter Lim took over.
The start of this season has been particularly depressing, as Los Ches currently sit at the bottom of the La Liga table. It will be interesting to the reader that all teams in La Liga have at least two points, except Valencia, who remain alone at the bottom with a single point.
The departure of star goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to the Premier League has left a significant void, and none of the summer arrivals have sparked much optimism among fans.
Valencia’s start to the season has been bleak, with three consecutive losses to Barcelona (1-2), Celta Vigo (1-3), and Athletic Club (0-1). A draw against Villarreal (1-1) awarded Valencia their first point of the season despite failing to show much quality.
The team’s performances have been uninspiring, and while they still have a few standout players like Pepelu, Cristhian Mosquera, and Hugo Duro, the squad has yet to find its rhythm, unlike in previous seasons.
Bet herePlaying away from home, Valencia will face a formidable Atlético de Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano, a venue known for its exceptional atmosphere. With Atlético’s current form, they will likely remain unstoppable for a little while longer.
Conor Gallagher is one of the figures who has quickly won over the fans with his relentless energy and defensive work. He embodies the fighting spirit synonymous with Atlético.
Valencia, on the other hand, has struggled to keep a single clean sheet in the first four matches, and it would be surprising to see them changing that on Sunday.
Their defensive frailties will likely be exposed by Atlético’s dynamic attack, which could feature the likes of Ángel Correa, Alexander Sørloth, or Julián Álvarez at any moment. With Mosquera as a rare bright spot, Valencia’s backline will face a tough test against the constant threat posed by Atlético’s forwards.
Given Valencia’s low confidence and tendency to sit deep in a 4-4-2 formation, they may focus more on defending rather than pressing forward. However, Atlético’s potent counter-attacks and superior quality in transitions make it hard to see Valencia containing their opponents.
One player that always comes in the season with high expectations is none other than Antoine Griezmann – the face of a typical Diego Simeone player. Unfortunately for the Argentinian manager, Griezmann has failed to impress as much as he did in the previous season.
There’s a consensus among fans that the burden on him has become too much. With new attacking partners like Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth, there’s hope that the responsibility will be better distributed, allowing Griezmann the freedom to rediscover his top form.
Valencia is the perfect team for that turnaround – in the sense that their transitions lack fluidity and would allow more clear-cut opportunities for Griezmann to add his name on the scoresheet. This will be crucial for both his confidence and Atlético’s attacking flow as they gear up for the long season ahead.
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