Diego Costa promises battle

Diego Costa entered the second part, scored and gave Atlético the victory that classifies the team for the next Champions League. A Happy coast, who even joked with his goal, ensuring that if he had finished as he wanted, the ball would have gone out. A Costa that, although it does not offer overwhelming numbers, it does come closer to what is expected of it. You have already marked more as many since LaLiga resumed (three) than in all the months before the break (two) and has given two assists. In the duel for the athletic '9', Costa feels strong.

The Spanish-Brazilian missed the trip to Vigo by sanction, but even so in this section he has had more minutes than Morata (405 and 399). He returned from confinement in good shape and Simeone chose him as the starter for the first games. The technician Trust him, he's never stopped doing it, and he gives you stripes. So, for example, it is the penalty taker. Against Alavés he scored and against Barça he failed, so he gave Saúl his turn without major problems.

The goal against Athletic, in the first game of this mini-league, took a weight off him. Between some things and others, droughts and injuries, Costa has not celebrated a target since October, eight months without joys. In the following week he gave two assists to João Félix (against Osasuna) and Vitolo (Valladolid); and where it came after it marked somewhat halfway with Bruno from Levante (noted in the defender's own account) and one 100% yours to Alavés. That is, Costa returned to feel important at Atlético. And not only because of the numbers, but because the sensations are good. Physically it is fine, you see him from good mood on and off the field and with much ambition but without selfishness. For example, since the summer he has been very on top of João Félix, pending his adaptation to the group.

He goal against Betis, although lucky, he remembers that Costa must be an important footballer, as he was in his previous stage and in some of his matches: the 2018 European Super Cup, the semifinal of the Europa League against Arsenal … Simeone needs him for the Champions, either as a starter (as in Anfield) or to prop up the second parts (as before Betis himself). And Atleti benefits from all this: if Morata scores, Costa responds with a goal; and vice versa.