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MADRID: Atlético Madrid's tough start to the season may have been eclipsed by the crisis surrounding Real Madrid, his rival. But there will be no place to hide against Borussia Dortmund tomorrow.
Two weeks ago, Dortmund inflicted a 4-0 defeat to Diego Simeone's team, the biggest defeat of Atletico since the coach took the lead there 392 games. already in their name.
It was supposed to be Atlético's year, ready to take on the title challenge by signing some impressive signatures this summer and hoping for a Champions League run, inspired by the prospect of a final in their own Wanda Metropolitano. June.
Their failures against Dortmund and Leganés were more striking, as they were caused by weaknesses in defense, their strong point under Simeone. Dortmund has pioneered a path to Atletico to score three goals in 10 minutes at Signal Iduna Park, while on Saturday, Leganes equalized thanks to a lax mark on a free kick.
Atlético was created in the image of Simeone and has rarely been pleasant to watch during his term. After scoring a goal in nine assists against Huesca last month, the coach said, "It pleased me as it ended on a goal.
Their bottom line in recent years has been the most difficult to break through in Europe. "Nobody's the perfect way to play," Simeone said last week. "It's a continuation of the victory."
Weaker defenders have increased demand, but Antoine Griezmann's partnership with Diego Costa, so effective last season, seems to have lost his spark.
Costa has a goal all season and must still stand out in La Liga. After turning 30 last month, it is tempting to wonder if the best days of the Spaniard are now behind him.
Simeone stays true to Costa and shares his best qualities – courage, determination, unwavering desire to win – with his striker. They also define Atletico at its best.
"He's an amazing player and very important to us," said Simeone last month. "Not least because of what it contributes to the atmosphere in the locker room."
The rest of the team did not intervene to fill the gap. Griezmann has five goals out of 14, a decent comeback, but a bit out of the numbers needed.
Thomas Lemar, the most exciting coach of the club this summer, has only two, and his undeniable talent has been perceived so far only intermittently.
The general feeling is that Atlético does not meet expectations. Some even suggested that Simeone's eighth-year message may have lost its meaning. More likely, perhaps, they have simply been overwhelmed before.
"The biggest advantage of Simeone is that he knows how to convince his players of his ideas," former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez told Catalunya radio on Saturday. "He thinks it's the only way to compete with Barça and Real Madrid. And his players believe it too. "
Five wins in 11 games is hardly a champion, but Atlético has everything to gain from rivals. They are third in the standings, just four points behind leaders Barcelona and three ahead of Real.
In the Champions League, the win over Dortmund this week could seal the qualification with two games to spare and allow them to score in equal points with the leaders of the Bundesliga.
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