Diego Costa claims his space

Atlético claims the best version of Diego Costa … and the Champions League too. He is not the Hispanic-Brazilian of those who shun responsibility, the other way around, but without Suárez, and despite having just come out of a muscle injury, it is his turn to take that step forward. It is the only nine available —because Saponjic doesn't count– and even points to the eleven tonight against Lokomotiv, after the quarter of an hour he had against Barça. A good opportunity to break your droughts and raise competition for nine when Suárez recovers from the coronavirus and come back.

Diego Costa scored the first goal of the season, against Granada, and then dried up until, three days later, broke against Celta, appointment in which he formed a point with Luis Suárez, an experiment to which Simeone has not been able to give continuity due to the losses of both. The Uruguayan will still miss some games in which Costa will have to respond, being decisive in attack and helping João Félix, that performs better when it has a tip in front. After tonight's date, Valencia and probably Bayern they will demand the best of the forward.

Diego Costa's figures also offer an important gap in Europe. The one from Lagarto has not seen the door with Atlético in the Champions League for more than two years. In August he decided to win the European Super Cup against Madrid with a double and the following month he scored in Monaco (the first goal of 1-2). Since that night in the Louis II, zero. Two operations deprived him of playing several games in the previous two group stages and in the current one he has not made his debut yet, but even so he has accumulated ten games without seeing the door. He has ahead of Lokomotiv, Bayern and Salzburg between now and December 9 to mark another notch and help an Atlético that in the Champions League does not have enough points.

Ally for Simeone, João Félix and Luis Suárez

Simeone will not be a problem, because he trusts his two battering rams. In Diego Costa he has not stopped doing it, although both have spoken and are aware that the role of the forward will not be the same as in previous courses. It is not indisputable, as João Félix and Suárez are, although the match by match says there are injuries, there are rotations and there are moments for everyone. Costa has stated that he has stayed at Atlético “to add” in what will probably be his last season at the club. His teammates also trust him and his activating effect, the one that the Metropolitan has raised so many times …