In Mestalla, two of the Atlético captains have won another medal, they have reached another level within the red and white history. Saúl (26 years old) and Oblak (27) have completed 200 league games with the team. They are already among the 40 rojiblancos players with the most matches ever and, if there are no setbacks, they will finish the course hovering around the top 25.
The goalkeeper, who arrived at Calderón in 2014, is breaking all records both in the club and in the League. Has won four Zamora trophies (only the last one has escaped) and he has already applied to take the next one as well. With two goals conceded in nine games (to the rhythm of the Double of Antic and Molina), He has a practically impossible to maintain projection of 8.5 conceded at the end of the season, unattainable for any other goalkeeper.
Oblak has left a clean sheet at 112 of those two hundred games, 56%, another record that leaves its rivals far behind. For example, Valdes he got it in 173 days of the 387 he played in First Division (44.7%); Paco Liaño, who shares with Oblak the record for the fewest goals conceded in a 20-team league (18), closed his career with 73 clean sheets in 160 league games (45.6%). Courtois, still active, has closed the door in 85 league games out of 181 (47%), between Atleti and Real Madrid.
The Slovenian has 200 league games and 270 between all competitions. In the global he does win Saúl, with 304, still far both from Koke and his 470. The midfielder made his debut in 2012, although he did not do so in the league until his 11th game, a year later, at Pizjuán. A season on loan at Rayo made him grow and since he returned he was an important footballer in Cholo's eyes, and since 2015 he is essential. Their 200 meetings are adorned by 24 goals and 12 assists.
Saúl and Oblak, the most used year after year
Its versatility has been a plus point to accumulate matches, although sometimes Simeone has used him almost to the extreme, making him play in various positions within the same match. It has also helped him that he is a footballer very little punished for injuries. In fact, this season he has missed more games for physical reasons than in the previous five.
Oblak is indisputable and Saúl, too. As soon as he recovered from the injury that left him out of five games, the Spaniard entered the eleven directly. With them, Simeone has played it in Mestalla and will do it this Tuesday against Bayern. They are his most used footballers year after year and his 200 league games will soon be far behind …