Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images A big win for Atlético’s top-four aspirations Atlético Madrid took a step closer to securing a top-four place in La Liga by beating Athletic Club 3-1 at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano on Saturday night. The game started well with an early deflected Rodrigo de Paul effort looping over Unai Simón, but took an ugly turn when the game was halted due to racism. Moments later the victim of that abuse, Nico Williams, scored to equalise after poor defensive work from the hosts. In the second period, Ángel Correa made the difference as he rounded Simón to ..read more

Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images Atlético have lost its past three meetings with Athletic. Atlético de Madrid host Athletic Club on Saturday night in a game that probably will determine whether Atlético’s decade-long stretch of playing UEFA Champions League football continues into the 2024/25 season. Atlético Madrid (19-4-9, 61 points) return to the comfy confines of the Cívitas Metropolitano, where Diego Simeone’s men have picked up 43 out of a possible 48 points in LALIGA this season and have lost only twice in all competitions. However, Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic (16-10-6, 58 p ..read more

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images Emmanuel and Robbie Dunne preview the upcoming clash with Athletic Club in LALIGA. Atlético Madrid’s recent back-to-back defeats — why are they so bad away from home? Jan Oblak and the defensive situation Athletic’s season overall: tactical approach, notable players, and the Williams brothers in attack What to expect from the game and key tactical battles Plus, a bonus quiz ..read more

Photo by CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty Images Another poor display from Atleti Atlético Madrid missed an opportunity to get one hand on fourth place as they completed a terrible week with a woeful defeat away at relegation-battling Deportivo Alavés at Mendizorroza. Alavés ran out 2-0 winners in a tie in which Atlético never got out of first gear. The first goal of the game came from Alavés captain Carlos Benavídez as he rifled in a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of Jan Oblak’s net. With the Colchoneros chasing the game, a late Alavés counter allowed Luis Rioja to produce a ma ..read more

Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images Trying to bounce back from Tuesday’s disappointment. Following its dispiriting elimination from the UEFA Champions League, Atlético de Madrid have only one objective remaining this season: finish in LALIGA’s top four. Los Rojiblancos can take a huge step toward that goal with a win over Alavés on Sunday evening. Atlético Madrid (19-4-8, 61 points) saw its Champions League dream dashed again on Tuesday night, this time by Borussia Dortmund, meaning this 2023/24 season has only seven games remaining. Atlético, hoping to finish as one of the top fou ..read more

Photo by Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images Atleti couldn’t do enough in Germany Atlético Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League in their quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund, falling to a 4-2 second leg defeat which condemned them to a 5-4 aggregate defeat to the Germans. Atleti set out defensively but succumbed to two first half goals shortly before the break as Julian Brandt and Ian Maatsen turned the tie on its head in the space of only five minutes. After a triple change at the break, a Mats Hummels own goal from a corner and then an Ángel Correa finish on the third attempt put At ..read more

Koke can captain Atlético its first European semifinal since 2018. | Photo by Flor Tan Jun/Getty Images Atlético will need to get the job done in Dortmund. Atlético de Madrid and Borussia Dortmund meet again on Tuesday night for the second leg of this Champions League quarterfinal tie. The venue shifts to Germany and Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, where Atlético Madrid have won once from three previous visits. Atlético, hoping to protect if not augment a 2-1 advantage from the first leg last week, are 90 minutes from qualifying for its first Champions League semifinal in seven seasons ..read more

Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Emmanuel and Abel Meszaros get you set for the second leg. On this edition of the Partido a Partido podcast, Emmanuel and Abel recap Atlético Madrid’s first-leg win over Borussia Dortmund and discuss what we can expect from the second leg Tuesday night ..read more

We caught up with our pals at SB Nation’s Borussia Dortmund site before the second leg of this quarterfinal tie. Into the Calderón: What did you all make of the first leg, and how confident are you of advancing on Tuesday night? Fear the Wall: Given how we played in the first half, it’s a small miracle that there’s even a remote possibility of us advancing to the semifinals. When Atleti pressed our backline, we pretty much had no answer for them, and it was only when the home side took their foot off the gas that we were able to settle into our possession game and create some chances. A 1-goa ..read more

Jan Oblak let in four goals when Atlético last met Girona. Will he fare any better in the rematch? | Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Fourth hosts third in the Spanish capital. Atlético de Madrid on Saturday afternoon have a great chance to consolidate a top-four place in LALIGA and draw closer to third-place Girona in the second head-to-head meeting between the two teams. With another home win, Atlético Madrid (18-4-8, 58 points) can stay ahead of Copa del Rey winners Athletic Club in the fight for qualification to next season’s Champions League league phase. Atlético are halfway to reac ..read more