Atlético and its all-time leading scorer have yet to secure a league title together. Is this their final opportunity?

Atlético and its all-time leading scorer have yet to secure a league title together. Is this their final opportunity?

Antoine Griezmann’s tenure at Atlético Madrid has encompassed a multitude of experiences, yet it has notably lacked the two most prestigious accolades in Spanish football:

a UEFA Champions League title and a Primera División championship. The club’s leading scorer has notably circumvented both championships that Atlético secured under the management of Diego Simeone, having joined the team subsequent to the first victory and departing for FC Barcelona prior to the second.

He has faced considerable criticism from the fans for his transfer to the Catalan club; however, it was only after the Frenchman consistently demonstrated his performance on the pitch that he was completely reintegrated and accepted by the Metropolitano. The initial acceptance swiftly evolved into profound adoration, and this year, Griezmann may finally realise the culmination of his fairytale.

The late penalty failure against Leganés on Saturday undoubtedly complicated matters; however, aside from that unfortunate misstep, it is important to acknowledge that Griezmann has been exceptional this season. He has capitalised on the strong performance of the preceding year and has discovered an additional level of excellence in his game in the months leading up to his 34th birthday.

is achieving a goal approximately every 163 minutes across various competitions, which equates to roughly one goal every two matches. Additionally, he is generating a scoring opportunity every 46 minutes. In comparison, merely six additional players in the Spanish league have generated a greater number of opportunities during the current season.

Furthermore, Griezmann appears to have gained from a greater clarity concerning his positional role this year. Although Cholo has alternated between a 3-5-2 and a 4-4-2 formation throughout the season, the Frenchman has consistently been positioned within the forward duo.

This stands in stark contrast to prior years, during which he was occasionally positioned in midfield; this adjustment seemed to disrupt his cadence as a player. In this instance, he has concentrated on positioning himself between the lines to receive passes from the midfield, and he has been granted complete creative autonomy in the attacking third.

He has been engaging in play at a significantly elevated level and utilising the channels effectively, thereby enabling him to perform at his optimal capacity. This also enhances his effectiveness when he does penetrate the box, as he is able to exploit greater space created by defenders being drawn out of position or taken off guard, failing to anticipate his movements.

It remains to be determined whether Griezmann will ultimately secure Spain’s most prestigious accolade with the Rojiblancos, or if such an achievement is simply not destined to occur. The conclusion of Atlético’s 15-match winning sequence, the most extensive in the club’s history, was partially attributable to the missed penalty in the closing moments of the match on Saturday.

Rivals Real Madrid have now taken advantage of that misstep, establishing a two-point lead at the summit of the table following their decisive victory over Las Palmas on Sunday afternoon. Given that Griezmann is significantly associated with a potential transfer to Major League Soccer this summer, this may very well be the final opportunity for the duo to collaborate.

For the time being, the Frenchman is sustaining the aspirations of the Rojiblanco supporters; however, the penalty miss at Butarque may prove to be significantly consequential as the season concludes.