Atletico Madrid´s winning streak fuelled by newcomers

Atletico Madrid’s winning run is down to a successful adaptation by their summer signings, so says Diego Simeone.

Real Valladolid were no match for in-form Atleti on Saturday, as Simeone’s team won 5-0 to cruise to a seventh straight victory in all competitions.

The club spent big on reinforcing their squad over the summer, and three of those signings – Clement Lenglet, Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth – were on target against Valladolid.

Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo De Paul also scored as Atleti moved, temporarily at least, into second place in LaLiga.

“All teams need time. A month and a half ago, two months ago, we talked about the new guys needing to adapt to the team and how Atletico Madrid play because they all played differently in their (former) teams,” Simeone told reporters.

“The growth of Lenglet, [Conor] Gallagher, Julian, Sorloth and the hope of recovering [the injured] Robin Le Normand soon is giving us a good feeling.

“We lost a very bad game against [Real] Betis, where we were not recognisable. And I think that was the breakthrough of what has come from then on. We can win, lose or draw, but we have to be recognisable.”

4+ – Atlético de Madrid have scored 4+ goals in two consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since May 2023 (two). Away from home, the last time the red-and-white side had scored 4+ goals in back-to-back games was in February 2018.

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Atleti had just 13 shots against Valladolid, yet got nine of them on target and accumulated a whopping 4.0 expected goals. That means, on average, each of their shots had an xG value of 0.3.

Simeone hopes Atleti can carry the momentum into the Copa del Rey, with Cacereno coming up in the second round on Thursday.

“Defensively we are doing well, which gives us a plus, and offensively we also have a position that gives us attacking options, speed, inside play, aerial play, counter-attacking, and we have to keep going,” he said.

“The league is very long and we are looking forward to the cup match, which will be tough like all ties, and we need to maintain the humility and commitment that the boys are showing.”