Koke brings out the best in Costa

Have not known Koke a footballer than better understand your passes than Costa nor has Costa had a partner to help him more score goals than Koke. So when Costa got his turn break their scoring drought (he had not marked since October 19) it was very likely that he was there Captain. Indeed, that is what happened in Bilbao: Diego scored thanks to a great pass from 6, which left him alone against Unai Simón. In 157 games Koke-Costa society has generated 23 goals for Atlético.

The connection comes from far away, from 2012-13, and normally works in the same sense as in San Mamés: Koke assists and Diego Costa scores. In total, the midfielder has given him 18 goals to the battering ram (plus another with the Selection) of the 79 that have been marked this one with Atleti. This season, in addition to that of Bilbao, he served a goal pass in Mallorca. That is, Koke has assisted Costa in two of his three goals of the course; the other was from a penalty (Valencia). In exchange, the striker gave him an assist at Atlético-Espanyol.

However, when the alliance was especially fruitful is between 2012 and 2014, the years of the great explosion of Diego Costa. In 2013-14, in which the striker scored 36 goals and he was one of the most decisive players in the league title, Koke gave him nine assists; three of them were against Athletic, two in the League and one in the Cup. The previous year, the half gave him six goal passes and Costa gave him three.

Griezmann, Torres, Fàbregas …

Only Griezmann approaches Diego in understanding with Koke. French marked 15 goals In 226 matches after the captain, the best rojiblanco assistant of the decade. He gave Torres eight, Raúl García seven; and Falcao, six. From Diego Costa's point of view only Cesc Fabregas it is close to what the rojiblanco captain has brought him: he gave him 13 assists in 104 games with Chelsea. And in Atlético, after his partner Koke, the ones that have given him the most goals are Raúl García (5), Griezmann, Juanfran and Gabi (4).