Position
Atletico's impressive run of results came to an end last weekend. After 15 wins in succession – a club record – the team led by head coach Diego Simeone lost 1-0 at newly promoted CD Leganes in La Liga on Matchday 20. At the club in the Madrid suburbs, the strong visitors had good goalscoring opportunities in the first half. Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann were unlucky with shots against the woodwork. The former Schalke player Matija Nastasic scored with a header from a corner for Leganes shortly after half-time. The Rojiblancos pressed hard for the equaliser and had almost 70% possession. But it was not to be their day. And not Antoine Griezmann’s either. The Frenchman put a penalty wide of the right upright on 89 minutes. "We’ve had 15 wonderful games up to now," said Simeone after the final whistle. "My team tried everything to score the equaliser. But it just wouldn't happen today."
With the defeat, Atletico have lost top spot to Real Madrid who beat Las Palmas 4-1 at home and now have a two-point lead over their city rivals. Atletico have recently secured narrow wins in the Spanish league against Sevilla (4-3), Getafe (1-0) and Osasuna (1-0). The Simeone team clocked up a 2-1 win away to Barcelona just before Christmas – the first away win at the Catalan side since 2006. That put Atletico top at the start of the short winter break.
Griezmann and Co. are currently eleventh on twelve points in the Champions League, just one point behind Bayer 04 in fourth spot. The Colchoneros started with a 2-1 last-minute win away to RB Leipzig. That was followed by two defeats at Benfica (0-4) and at home to OSC Lille (1-3). Atletico have won the last three games on the bounce against Paris Saint-Germain (2-1), Sparta Prague (6-0) and Slovan Bratislava (3-1). Simeone has great respect for the next opponents Bayer 04: "They are a wonderful team, one of the best in Europe. We are expecting a very difficult game."
Personnel
Simeone is up against Leverkusen for the ninth time. The Argentinian has not faced any other club as often in the Champions League. His record is evenly balanced: three wins, three defeats, two draws and a goal difference of 9-9. The 54-year-old has now coached the Rojiblancos for 13 years. Simeone has won nine trophies with the club including the Europa League twice and La Liga twice. As a player, he made 169 appearances for Atletico. The game against Bayer 04 is match number 712 as the Atletico coach. "We'll go through fire for him – regardless of what happens," said striker Antoine Griezmann, himself a club legend. The 33-year-old Frenchman has played 416 games for the Red and Whites (193 goals). This term he is currently the second highest goalscorer for the team second in the table with seven goals behind the Norwegian Alexander Sörloth (eight). He has already found the back of the net four times in the Champions League and provided two assists. Julian Alvarez is likely to play alongside him up front against the Werkself. The Argentina international, signed from Manchester City in the summer, has scored four goals in the Champions League and six in La Liga. A pair of strikers for Jonathan Tah and Co. to keep a close eye on.
Sörloth, who joined Atletico from Villarreal at the start of the season as a successor to Alvaro Morata (AC Milan), will miss the game against the Werkself. The centre-forward and former Leipzig player suffered a muscle injury in the 4-0 win for the Colchoneros in the Copa del Rey at second division Elche. But Simeone also has a wide choice in attack: Angel Correa has scored three in the Champions League. Giuliano Simeone, the son of the coach, started on the right wing in the last three matches in the Champions League. His teammate on the left was often the Englishman Conor Gallagher, a summer signing from Chelsea. High quality players in central midfield are Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo de Paul and the captain Koke. An extremely dangerous player on the right flank is Marcos Llorente, the best provider for the Red and Whites in the Champions League with four assists. First choices in central defence are the Frenchman Clément Lenglet, on loan from Barcelona, and the Spanish European champion Robin Le Normand. José Gimenez, another central defender, is a doubt due to a calf injury.
Problems
While Atletico have only conceded 13 goals in 20 games in the league and thereby have the best defence in La Liga, the Rojiblancos have proved to be susceptible in the Champions League. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak has had to pick the ball out of the net ten times in six games. Weakness in the eleven-time Spanish champions' defence was evident in the defeats in Lisbon (0-4) and at home against Lille (1-3). The heavy defeat at Benfica could have been by an even bigger margin as Atletico were all over the place in the second half. In the 3-1 defeat against Lille, the hosts were the better team in the first half and deservedly took the lead. But they were punished by the French side in the second half for their passivity and not taking chances.
The intense tackling by the Simeone team also brings risks: Atletico have conceded four penalties in six games. All the spot kicks were converted.
Performers
On the other hand: High pressing and aggressive challenges often put pressure on opponents in their own half. Atletico exert an incredible amount of pressure particularly on the impressive stage at the Estadio Metropolitan. In front of their own fans, the Colchoneros have not lost a game in the league this term. The team not only show their physical strength but also shine as a group of quality players. Atletico are one of the best attacking teams in Europe. They are fourth in this ranking in the league phase of the Champions League with 14 goals. It is striking that the Red and Whites have scored a lot of last-minute goals in the league as well as in the Champions League, including numerous crucial goals.
