Arsenal
With the European season formally at an finish, Soccer España shall be reviewing every one of many La Liga sides and the way they fared this season.
Outcomes:
La Liga: 3RD
Copa del Rey: Semi-Finals
Champions League: Spherical of 16
High Goalscorer: Julian Alvarez – 29 targets
High Assister: Rodrigo de Paul – 10 Assists
Season Abstract
Learn how to summarise a season that had so many alternative sensations. After ending behind Girona final yr, Atletico Madrid purchased hope within the type of almost €200m in funding. World Cup-winner Julian Alvarez, Euro 2024-winner Robin Le Normand, Pichichi runner-up Alexander Sorloth and Euro 2024 runner-up Conor Gallagher all sounded fairly good. Dropping 4-0 to Benfica is one approach to mood that optimism, and a 1-0 loss away to Actual Betis had Diego Simeone holding a dressing room disaster speak.
One which labored. Debates about Simeone’s cycle evaporated with each stoppage time winner – there have been 16 of their opening 39 video games of the season, they usually proved the one prime facet (apologies Leganes/Las Palmas) that might go punch for punch with Barcelona, coming into 2025 as actual title contenders. These wins away to Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona spoke of a spine that reminded of the good Atleticos of the earlier decade.
And alongside got here March. Within the area of some brief weeks, Atletico Madrid performed Barcelona twice, Actual Madrid twice, Getafe and Espanyol, and the one win was a 1-0 that noticed them exit the Champions League on penalties. It was a Zeppelin-style deflation, and one which Atletico couldn’t get better from in April and Might. What harm most was that in each a kind of video games, save one, they have been in some unspecified time in the future forward. The defence couldn’t maintain up, and on the different finish, Julian Alvarez’s contributions changed those from Antoine Griezmann quite than complemented them.
Verdict: B-
Swithering between a C+ and B, Simeone’s facet did make progress this season. They have been nearer in degree to Actual Madrid and Barcelona, they usually have a brand new franchise star. Third-place is the place they’ve to complete, and finally they did problem the large two. Julian Alvarez appeared the celebrity they signed him to be, and Rodrigo de Paul was at his finest for big swathes of the season.
All the identical, their collapse was… Troublesome to rationalise utterly, and a supply of nice indigestion on the Metropolitano. Barcelona and Actual Madrid have been 5-10 factors weaker this season, and Los Blancos have been there for the taking within the Champions League, even when they have been unlucky. Within the Copa del Rey, Los Colchoneros have been two targets up on Barcelona, and once more within the Liga conflict on the Metropolitano, however conceded 4 occasions in 20 minutes. Granted, Barcelona have been excellent, however dropping factors in opposition to Getafe, Espanyol and Las Palmas finally value them an opportunity to place stress on Barcelona within the remaining video games of the season. Progress, as famous, however not with no few steps again both.
Participant of the Season: Julian Alvarez
You hate to be cliche, however the celebrity signing was the perfect of the bunch. His contributions in opposition to Barcelona in La Liga and Actual Madrid within the Champions League have been clutch, and whereas in La Liga his targets whole was a surprisingly low 17, total he had by far and away probably the most objective contributions.
In these large fixtures, so typically Alvarez was the one dragging the staff ahead, displaying as a lot grit as high quality – which isn’t to undermine the amount of the latter. The Metropolitano has fallen in love with Alvarez, and as heroes go, Alvarez is probably the most romantic within the Atletico staff.
Nice Shock of the Season: Giuliano Simeone
If expectations have been excessive when Atletico Madrid spent €75m on Julian Alvarez, expectations have been the alternative when Giuliano Simeone returned from his mortgage spell at Alaves, after lacking many of the season by way of harm. Even Diego Simeone admitted his son had stunned him.
Giuliano offered drive and impetus, stretching the pitch and shoring up the facet defensively. A few of Atletico’s finest spells coincided with that of the youthful Simeone, and he embodied his father on the pitch, which isn’t any small feat.
If solely we may have had a bit extra from: Antoine Griezmann
It was not Antoine Griezmann’s most interesting marketing campaign, though it’s value stating for these brief on reminiscence, that till 2025 he was nonetheless glorious. Nonetheless, this can be the season that Griezmann leaves the beginning XI for good. His relative absence from goalscoring manufacturing was quite conspicuous, particularly in contrast with Sorloth within the remaining levels of the season.
Diego Simeone: “Griezmann is a gem of an individual, an absolute membership legend. Three or 4 months after leaving, he already realized he made a mistake. The followers made him really feel it, and it wasn’t straightforward. However with arduous work and targets — like I all the time say, targets treatment the whole lot — he… pic.twitter.com/EiembfBLHe
– Atletico Universe (@atletti Universe) June 13, 2025
Knocking Griezmann after his late 2022 to 2024 enjoyable sounds blasphemous, however after so lengthy with out the mandatory disciples, it grates somewhat that he couldn’t rise once more on the essential stage of this season. An intriguing marketing campaign forward after his contract renewal.
On the horizon, you see…
As we’ve been at pains to notice, regardless of the late points, this Atletico staff appeared nearly as good because it has in a really very long time. In Alvarez there may be hope, in Barrios loads of future and when you shake Sorloth, targets come out of him. Each switch window of late appears to current obtrusive wants for Atletico although, and their report of filling them isn’t exemplary.
If they will convey within the likes of Alex Baena, Cristian Romero and Johnny Cardoso, Simeone shall be shut to have the ability to subject a full beginning XI with out query marks hanging over the pitch. If. Then all of it has to return collectively. Los Rojiblancos had among the finest defences in Spain this season, however Simeone felt required to sacrifice a few of his firepower for additional cowl, which left them on the again foot within the remaining levels. Having the ability to defend with out catering for apparent weaknesses would signify additional progress.
Discovering that steadiness is the important thing to the pot of gold/trophies, however they start subsequent season all however assured third, and heading ahead in comparison with final season.
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