What Is Wrong With Atletico Madrid?

Despite dominating, Atletico Madrid once again somehow contrived to lose 2-1 to Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday. For the third time this month, Los Rojiblancos were the better side in their meetings with the Catalan giants yet still came away with nothing to show for it.

Two massive lapses in concentration at the back allowed Rafinha and Lionel Messi (three minutes from the end) to score either side of Diego Godin’s effort. It is a bitter pill for Diego Simeone to swallow: he’s has yet to beat Barca in La Liga as Atleti boss and realistically, it now means the highest league finish they can hope for is fourth. That will also be a fight.

They made Barcelona look average, as they often do. Jan Oblak was back and looked solid as a rock while Koke was dominant in a midfield containing Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta.

The defensive lapses continue. The foundation for Simeone’s success in the Spanish capital has been a solid, stingy backline but that has been found wanting in 2016-17.

Manager rating out of 10

4 — Picked Stefan Savic despite Jose Maria Gimenez being fit and available, which is inexcusable. Simeone will have regrets after this game: Barcelona were fragile and there for the taking and Atletico did not go in for the kill. Should have gone after Sergi Roberto and Rafinha more down the left.

GK Jan Oblak, 6 — A welcome return from injury. Got away with spilling a Messi shot early on but produced brilliant saves from a Gerard Pique header and Messi free kick. Helpless on the two goals.

DF Sime Vrsaljko, 7 — On the whole he dealt very well with the tricky Neymar, more often than not coming out on top. Produced a fantastic last-ditch block to stop a certain goal at 1-1, too. Always keen to push forward and linked up very well with Saul down the right.

DF Diego Godin, 7 — Back from injury to help shore up the backline, but his most telling contributions were at the other end. Missed two gilt-edge chances in the first half but levelled the scores with a deft header.

DF Stefan Savic, 6 — Was solid without ever being spectacular. Always seems to have an error in him: This time he gave stupid free kick away on edge of box that Oblak got him out of jail with. Hard to be overly critical today, but he is the only different piece in a leaky defence that was tighter than watertight last season.

DF Filipe Luis, 6 — Was excellent going forwards and contributed a lot in that sense. Also managed to deal well with Messi and Rafinha for the large part, but was caught snoozing for the latter’s opening goal.

MF Saul Niguez, 6 — Put in a shift. Looked a bit leggy towards the end after his exploits in midweek and it’s hardly surprising. Helped double up and keep Neymar quiet but his passing range was unusually off.

MF Gabi, 7 — Gives way canny fouls to stop breaks, has a word with the ref at the right time and isn’t bad on the ball either. Forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into action in the first half with a volley from the edge of the box and more often than not won his individual battles.

MF Koke, 8 — Was the best midfielder on the park and that is no mean feat against Barca. Playing in a slightly more advanced role than usual, he did not have to defend as much and was allowed to influence play. Put in a great cross for Godin’s goal, too.

MF Yannick Carrasco, 6 — Couldn’t quite get into the game. Should have been attacking the Barcelona right-hand side but Simeone appeared slow to react to Enrique’s three-man defence and the game plan did not allow for it. When he got the ball, he was erratic. Subbed off.

FW Antoine Griezmann, 6 — Did everything but the goal; however, there aren’t enough goals from him in too many of these big games. That said, it was not for the want of trying. He was thwarted on no fewer than four occasions by a combination of poor finishing and good saves.

FW Kevin Gameiro, 6 — Tireless running but wasn’t given a chance to continue his fine scoring form. Helped tire the visiting defence out before he was replaced with just under 20 to go.

FW Fernando Torres (for Carrasco), 6 — Denied an injury time equaliser by a brilliant Pique block.

FW Angel Correa (for Gameiro), NR — On for the final 15 but struggled to get involved.