Josema 'the wall' Giménez

Having continuity has been one of the biggest headaches for Giménez in recent seasons. The physical problems have weighed down year after year the Uruguayan central defender, that despite being a veteran in the Atlético squad (He arrived in 2013 and is together with Koke the only one to lift the two Cholism Leagues), at 26, he still has a lot of football in his boots.

When Giménez can reach his peak in form it is without a doubt one of the best centrals in LaLiga and in the whole world. And in this beginning of the course he is showing it again. The Uruguayan is the fifth player in the squad who has played the most minutes, a total of 718 with the rojiblanco team despite the fact that Simeone has given him rest in two games so as not to overload him with appearances. The first time in the visit to Cornellà, after he had returned from his international commitments less than 48 hours before playing against Espanyol and the second in Mendizorroza, where Atlético suffered its first defeat of the course at the hands of Alavés. In those two games, the rojiblanco team conceded the rival's goal at the exit of a corner.

The team has noticed those absences and against Barcelona he once again made it clear that if his physique allows it, he is almost insurmountable. According to Opta data, Giménez won against the Blaugrana team the five melee duels in which he was measured, he was the winner in his three innings and achieved nine clearances when Koeman's team sought to damage Oblak's goal from lateral crosses. That is one of the great specialties of the Uruguayan center-back, a colossus at the top in both areas and this season has already rounded the goal with several heads in the opponent's goal. Giménez was an insurance against Barça also with the ball, completing 14 of the 15 passes he attempted (93.3% correct) and recovered the ball three times.

If last year between the coronavirus and muscle injuries he had to wait for match 8 to debut, without being able to participate in the first two days of the Champions League either, This season he has been called up in all the games and has completed seven of them, being substituted in the 88th minute of the duel against Villarreal in search of the tying goal. That game was probably his only mistake so far this year in an indecision with Savic that cost Danjuma a goal. Giménez is fast, aggressive on the cut, strong above and with confidence, and in that facet it is essential to be able to close the line of three centrals or form a couple with Savic or Felipe.

Giménez's good feelings are amplified considering that the defense has started weaker than on other occasions and that it has cost Oblak much more than usual to keep a clean sheet. Against Barcelona he did it for the third time in a row against the Blaugranas, for a total of seven goals against in ten games and four clean sheets, all of them with Giménez on the field. The great wish is that the Uruguayan, already focused with his team in a new international break, can continue to respond and add minutes with the regularity that has occurred so far. Giménez has raised the wall in the axis of the rear.