Atlético has lost the goal. Since the last international break, and despite the great effectiveness shown against Alavés (4-1), Simeone’s team accumulates 270 minutes without seeing a door and he left Manchester and Mallorca with hardly any danger.
Back at the Wanda Metropolitano and spurred on by the huge atmosphere in the stands, Atlético was able to besiege Ederson’s goal and generate multiple chances to look for something that would have led to the extension, but the forcefulness to which Simeone has made so much reference and which has defined a tie where City was effective on its great occasion in the first leg. Griezmann, De Paul, Cunha, Savic, Correa… they could not materialize that treasure in the form of a goal.
With the enormous offensive talent that the rojiblanco team concentrates, never this season had he managed to add so much time in a row without a goal. In September, two consecutive zero draws were tied against Athletic and Porto, but it was amended a few days later with 1-2 in Getafe. In all of last season there were never three games in a row without scoring and you have to go back to December 2019 to remember the last time it happened (Juventus, Barcelona and Villarreal).
Now, Atlético takes refuge in their stadium to recover their offensive splendor. This season accumulates 29 goals in 15 league games in front of his fans and consecutively receives Espanyol and Granada in three days, two capital duels in the fight for Champions positions. Levante and Mallorca took the victory of the home of Atleti and Granada already added three points in the first leg, making clear the many difficulties of the team against the teams below. This Sunday against Espanyol also celebrates Children’s Day. Despite being eliminated from the European competition, the competitiveness and pride shown by the ‘rojiblanco’ team was rewarded with applause and chants up to ten minutes after the match. Fans and team go hand in hand and on Sunday it will be clear again. Celebrating goals again can be the gratitude that the public of the mattress fiefdom deserves.