🇪🇸 There's still life in Atleti and Simeone after dramatic late comeback | OneFootball

Comebacks were the order of the weekend in LaLiga as Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid and Sevilla all came from 2-0 down with Atleti winning and the latter two squeezing out 2-2 draws.

The Wanda Metropolitano was bouncing as the champions scored two injury-time goals to beat Valencia to claim a victory which could change the direction of their season.

It’s been a difficult campaign for Diego Simeone’s side but could the manner of this result prove to be a turning point?

Simeone needs it to be as their title defence appeared to be over before the winter break.

Atleti are 14 points behind league leaders Real Madrid – albeit with a game in hand – and have already lost more games than they did last season (five defeats this campaign to just four in 20/21).

Retaining the crown might not be a possibility but there will no better time to turn the tide with Barcelona up next in the league and Manchester United in the Champions League on the horizon.

If Atlético had lost this weekend then three teams would’ve overtaken them, a fact which outlines the significance of the win.

The noise from the crowd before the game was filled with chants in support of their manager with the Argentine possibly enduring his toughest spell in charge.

They had won just one of their last seven games going into the match and as the clock entered the 90th minute it looked as if that gloomy run was about to continue.

However, Ángel Correa equalised before Mario Hermoso netted a 93rd-minute winner and the ferocity in the celebrations could be felt from the stands.

Simeone’s Atleti built their previous successes on a watertight defence but this season has seen them keep just five clean sheets in their 21 games so far.

Meanwhile, their goal return (36 goals in 21 fixtures) suggests that defensive solidity hasn’t been replaced by proficiency in attack.

Cunha, Antoine Griezmann and João Félix have scored a combined nine goals between them with a defined strike partnership yet to present itself.

There’s undoubted quality in this Atlético team but it appears there are a lot of moving pieces in the squad that are yet to glue together.

This has left them fighting for a spot in the top four in a season which they began as the number one in Spain.

Perhaps the campaign hasn’t been what Los Colchoneros wanted it to be but Saturday night proved there is still life in this team and more importantly, the manager.

A huge few months await for Simeone and Atleti.

🇪🇸 Player of the Week

Nabil Fekir (Real Betis)

The 28-year-old continues to sparkle for Manuel Pellegrini’s side and his two assists were pivotal in Betis’ 4-1 win over Espanyol on Friday night. That win moved them up to third and their quest for Champions League is being spearheaded by Fekir’s ability to produce magic from the mundane.

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