March is a month that will mark the future of Atlético, both in LaLiga and in the Champions League. Simeone’s team faces four games that will define the objectives that the team will have in this final stretch of the season. And it will not be easy for Atlético in the four games this month. And more when three are at home, far from the Wanda Metropolitano.
To begin with, Atlético will play in Seville, against Betis, this coming Sunday (9:00 p.m.). A match that will be the first final for the Champions League. The Verdiblanco team takes a point from Atlético and it is a match between two teams that are looking for the same thing. Later, Cádiz will pay a visit to the rojiblanco fiefdom. In theory, and always on paper, it is the easiest meeting of the four of March.
And then he will play two games away from home before the stoppage for national teams: on Tuesday the 15th he will play at Old Trafford, against Manchester. Atlético was much better in the first leg played in Madrid, but could not get past 1-1, which leaves the tie very open. And immediately afterwards, on Saturday the 19th he will play in Vallecas against Rayo Vallecano. The Rayista team always puts up a fight against Atlético and the derby will be the last game before the break.
Atlético appears at home much more vulnerable than at home. The difference in LaLiga in this sense is important. In the Wanda Metropolitano he has played 13 games, with eight wins, three draws and two losses: Majorca and Levante. He got 27 points at home. He scored 23 goals and conceded 12.
Far from the Wanda Metropolitano the numbers change. Atlético played 13 away games in LaLiga, with five wins, three draws and five losses. Lost to Alavés, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Granada and Barcelona. He won 18 points as a visitor. He scored 24 goals and received 22.
In Champions, the panorama is better. Atlético won away two of the three games they played in the group stage. They beat Milan (1-2) and Porto (1-3) in the decisive match to go through to the next phase. He fell to Liverpool 2-0. Away from home, in the Champions League, they showed themselves to be a serious and solvent team. Old Trafford