All Eyes on Antoine Griezmann | OneFootball

When Barcelona sold Neymar, that 220 million euros largely went to the transfers of Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho. Due to those gaudy figures, the Frenchman and the Brazilian were never going to live up to their price tags. Their legacies at Barcelona in the eyes Culers still reflect that disconnect of expectations and expense. But it was that third player that Barcelona spent 100+ million euros on that seems to be forgotten.

Antoine Griezmann won’t be remembered as a Barcelona player. He played just over 100 matches (102) for Barcelona (Alejandro Balde just hit 100 appearances for comparison), and his time in a Blaugrana shirt was somewhere between okay and not great.

But his legacy at Barcelona says less about what he did at Barcelona and much more about what he’s been to Atlético Madrid. Koke, Jan Oblak, and Ángel Correa are three of the top seven in all-time appearances for the club, and Antoine Griezmann could make that list if he has a few seasons in him. As for the goals list, Griezmann sits atop the list with 192 and counting. Luis Aragonés, now remembered as Spain’s manager for their 2008 Euro win, scored 173 back in the 60s and 70s. Fortunately for Barcelona, the only goals he’s scored against his former club came with Real Sociedad and never with Atlético Madrid.

Griezmann has been back to Catalonia since his loan back in 2021, but this might be the homecoming with the highest stakes for both clubs. Diego Simeone has never beaten Barcelona at their home stadium, but his 13 match unbeaten streak is the best in Europe and the best form Atléti has ever been while traveling meet the league leaders.

Speaking of, for all their recent struggles, Barcelona are still atop the league table at time of writing. While both Atléti and Real Madrid could overtake them with a game in hand, Barcelona still very much control their own destiny in the head-to-head match-ups.

Nerves will be high, so join other Culers for the Watchalong! Remember, you can join that stream and actually talk to me by requesting to be a guest. Hope to see you there – https://bigup.com/watch/66637021-c751-49a0-b625-157fd4e60286