Atlético is experiencing an atypical season. The foundations of cholismo have been changing and today the mattress group It is the one that best attacks in First Division and, at the same time, the one that defends the worst, something that the data reflects.
And Oblak is being the living image of that difficulty behind, conceding many goals and reflecting an insecurity until this unprecedented season. Against Cádiz, the defense suffered again in a play that has been hurting for a long time, a lateral cross at the head of the striker for Negredo’s goaland later Giménez had to save under the sticks a play where Oblak had collided for the second time with Reinildo until he left a loose ball that the Cadiz team was about to take advantage of.
Now Atletico visit Old Trafford with the obligation to win to get a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The eliminatory is in tables and in front appears Cristiano Ronaldo, a striker who has always insisted on standing in the way of Atlético’s European dreams. And, to beat the Portuguese in the competition for the first time, it will be essential for the Oblak of the big nights to appear. The Slovenian has left epic games away from home so that the rojiblanco team stayed alive in the games and could overcome the qualifiers that were getting uphill.
Cities like Munich, Liverpool or London have seen how the figure of Oblak grew and became almost insurmountable. Even in this group stage the Slovenian had to leave two big hands in Porto before Atlético’s offensive machinery kicked in and get the necessary victory to be in the second round. One of his best games of the course. against Bayern, Oblak left one of the great performances of a goalkeeper in the Champions League. It was in the semifinals of the 2015-16 season, when the Slovenian saved a penalty and became an impressive wall, which despite conceding two goals held the team and He gave value to Griezmann’s goal to be able to be in the final in Milan.
More recent was the exhibition at Anfield. In the second round of the 2019-20 campaign, Atlético defended the 1-0 first leg tooth and nail. But Klopp’s team did not stop arriving and reaching the area until they found the goalkeeper’s gloves again and again. Nine worthwhile saves so that Llorente could become the hero of extra time and leave in silence, or rather with mattress chants, a Liverpool feud that was amazed by Oblak.
And it is that the goalkeeper feels good England. Also in Europa League he left an epic night. Against Arsenal, on that occasion in the first leg of the semi-finals, Atlético was left with one less very soon. But Oblak kept the team in the game with several spectacular hands, the kind that players like Lacazette still have nightmares about. Griezmann gave value to the wall formed by the Slovenian and Atlético certified qualification for a final that they would end up winning in the second leg. Stamford Bridge and the King Power Stadium, stadiums of Chelsea and Leicester, they have also seen up close the great reflexes of the goalkeeper. Atlético needs that Oblak to reappear in a new stadium that Simeone’s team wants to conquer.