Atlético have solved the left side problem. Now to win away, fans demand

Another home game, another win. Atlético Madrid beat Valencia on Sunday and jumped to third place in the table. Fans are praising Brazilian Samuel Lin’s crucial goal, but are still concerned about the away form.

Atlético controlled the game against Valencia from the first minute, just as they did against Sevilla, but struggled at the end. The key to their second-half composure was that they scored their first goal in the set-up of the opening half. It then played with calmness.

Left side solved in Atlético

Yannick Carrasco is also a symbol of the successful Diego Simeone era. The sometimes overlooked Belgian spent six years at the club during two engagements. When he embarked on an adventure to China in January 2018, the club brought him back two years later, having failed to find a typologically similar replacement.

Last summer, Carrasco definitely left for Saudi Arabia, but Simeone has plugged the hole on the left side. Brazilian Samuel Lino was gaining experience at Valencia last season and this time he was the key goal in their defeat.

Carrasco has never had the role of an outright goal-scoring winger. He has only closed one league season with double-digit goals, Lino is currently on a 6+5 record through all competitions. Under Simeone, he needs to be able to primarily switch between the wing and fullback positions.

“And here I thought the left side was doomed after Carrasco left,” wrote La Liga user Lol Rinz in a liking comment below the YouTube cut. Fanton agreed: “Let’s hope there is a clause in the contract and that it is very high. Carrasco is not missing.”

Outside, Simeone’s storming is not enough

Atlético have confirmed their excellent home form, having already beaten Real Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano in league and cup this season. But then they go away and it’s a loss or a hard-fought draw. While at home Simeone sweeps the fans away with emotion, away his magic is not enough.

“Atlético’s play is at a good level but we need to break the away curse, we can’t keep losing away,” wrote a Sanchez supporter. And breaking the black streak will be very difficult, with Atlético challenging Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend.

Source: La Liga