Atlético beat Athletic but continue to push mental, physical limits

We really can’t enjoy anything for long as Atlético fans. When we beat FC Barcelona to progress to the last four of the UCL, we had to deal with a heartbreaking Copa del Rey final loss in the same week. When we won trophies back in Diego Simeone’s early years as manager, we’d have to stomach the loss of the team’s best players weeks afterwards. And now, just when we thought we were being treated to a healthy Pablo Barrios — and after he contributed heavily to his team’s two goals in five minutes — the poor lad was taken off with an injury four minutes after the second went in.

**The neutral’s team**

It has been one of the most tumultuous seasons in recent *colchonero* memory that put us on the brink of winning a domestic trophy and has us within sight of the unspoken European crown. The highs have been stellar — putting five past Real Madrid and knocking Barça out in the Champions League quarter-finals were historic achievements — and the lows have seen us being re-acquainted with cup final misery and some rather depressing performances. From the point of view of a fan with skin in the game, riding this footballing rollercoaster has been equal parts fun as it has been stressful, especially when each matchday has become a roll of the dice as to decide the scoreline, no matter the opponent. However, for the neutral, watching Atlético Madrid has been guaranteed entertainment. Journalist Lars Sivertsen often jokingly refers to a particular game’s xF (expected fun). I doubt there have been many teams with a higher xF than Atleti across Europe, particularly over the course of the last few weeks.

Sørloth continues to deliver

In the wake of the hilarious reports that Barcelona are interested in signing him, Alex Sørloth is giving reason to justify that interest. Looking at the numbers, this is the fourth consecutive LALIGA season that he has registered double figures in goals, with his 32 total league goals in two seasons at Atleti mostly having come from limited minutes off the bench. As someone who can completely change a team’s approach — allowing his side to opt for an aerial route to goal — the Norwegian is a smart player to have in your squad. Although Unai Simón made it significantly easier for him by retreating like the French, his second goal was a sign that he’s not just about one-touch finishes either. This was the biggest downfall of his predecessor, Álvaro Morata, who seemed to decrease his chances of scoring as his time to think increased.