Atlético de Madrid wants to go through one more day as LaLiga leader. Both Real Madrid and Barça are very close to one and two points, respectively. The defeat against Sevilla and the draw against Betis do not help an Atleti that is being diluted. Atleti reached 50 points (out of 57 possible) in the first 19 league games to 17 (out of 33) in the last 11. An advantage that could have been expanded.
Those of Simeone have starred in big punctures. In September at 'El Alcoraz' (0-0). The draw against Celta (2-2), where Ferreyra scored the final goal in the 89th minute. Hard 0-2 defeat against Levante at the Wanda and a draw against Getafe that spent 20 minutes with one less player on the pitch. Not counting the recent results against Sevilla and Betis.
It is clear that this Atleti is different from the start of the season. The proof is in what happened in the first match against SD Éibar in Ipurúa. The colchoneros won 1-2 in a match where they showed the claw of a champion. First, because they started they lost and, later, they tied through Suárez. Finally, the Uruguayan was also going to score the final goal that gave him three points. This match against Mendilibar's men is a litmus test to return to that dynamic that they put into practice in the first leg.
The defense is diluted
Atleti is the team that fits the least (20). If we go back to November, we come across some devastating data: the colchoneros did not concede a goal in the League for four consecutive days (Cádiz, Barcelona, Valencia and Valladolid). But everything changed against Madrid in December, the defense lost its effectiveness: they were scored by Elche, Alavés, SD Éibar, Valencia, Cádiz, Celta, Granada, Levante, Athletic, Sevilla and Betis. In the last seven games, the colchoneros have conceded six goals.