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Atlético Settles For Another Draw As The Walls Close In Around LaLiga Leader

By Connor Fleming April 11, 2021
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Being top of the table is all that matters, but eight matches now feels like an eternity for Atlético.
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It’s really, really not supposed to happen now. 

It feels next to impossible at this point, although one look at the LaLiga table shows that Atlético Madrid, by virtue of a single point, still controls its own destiny in the title race with eight matches remaining following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis.

But the narrative has changed. Rather than the feel-good tale of a team tinkering with new methods of expression, this is now a horror story — and like all good depictions of the macabre, you cannot look away.   

If there were only two or three matches remaining, you’d still have to be genuinely concerned about Atlético’s increasingly meager lead at the top of the table and ability to manage games. But the reality is that Atlético still has eight matches to navigate before the curtain closes — including clashes with Barcelona, Real Sociedad and Athletic Club — and that now feels like eight distinct chances to drop points rather than opportunities to put a bit of breathing room between themselves and Real Madrid and Barcelona.  

It must be said that reports of Real Madrid and Barcelona’s respective deaths have been greatly exaggerated. Inspired by the consistent brilliance of Karim Benzema and anchored by the world’s best midfield triumvirate, Real is suddenly the league favorite and a growing threat in the Champions League. Barça, despite defeat in Saturday’s El Clásico, is still Lionel Messi’s muse and making great strides under Ronald Koeman.

Then there’s the worrying trends that have now become characteristic of Atlético. The team is overly reliant on Luis Suárez and Marcos Llorente for goals and chance creation has dwindled to a slow drip. The vaunted defense has had its mishaps as well, including the surrender of multiple goals to both Celta Vigo and Levante. 

With Suárez injured and Llorente suspended, Sunday’s trip to seventh-place Real Betis represented a massive hurdle for Diego Simeone, but also a chance to find some new energy with the old formula no longer reaping the same rewards. 

Héctor Herrera was handed his first start since Dec. 12, when he was unceremoniously hooked at halftime during the Madrid Derby. The Mexican was also dealing with a muscle injury and the coronavirus over that subsequent period, but Herrera’s inclusion spoke to Diego Simeone’s desperation for a different approach following Champions League elimination, defeat to Sevilla and a draw with 15th-place Getafe.

The right combination appeared to have been found as Atlético opened the scoring at the Benito Villamarín with only five minutes on the clock. João Félix played his part in releasing Ángel Correa, and the Argentine clipped a pass back for Yannick Carrasco to calmly finish. 

Atlético almost doubled its advantage 10 minutes later, but Claudio Bravo denied Saúl Ñíguez’s header to set the stage for a fantastic Real Betis equalizer. 

Álex Moreno provided the cross in the 20th minute, and Cristian Tello guided a volley beyond Jan Oblak from 12 yards out.

To make matters worse for Atlético, João Félix was clattered right before halftime and was eventually hooked for Lucas Torreira in the 48th-minute. Desperate for a goal, Atlético found itself playing with a forward line made up of industrious midfielders. 

So it was unsurprising to see the match end following a half-hour of unimaginative play from Atlético (although former Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravio pulled off a couple fine saves in added time). Betis almost found a winner shortly after the introduction of Diego Lainez, who forced a spectacular save from Oblak with his first involvement on the pitch. 

The point is precious for Atlético since it keeps them one point clear of Real. Should the two sides finish the season level on points, Real would win the tiebreaker of head-to-head points (Real won the first meeting, the second ended in a draw). But it also means that Atlético has won only four of its last 11 league matches (four wins, five draws and two defeats).  

It’s going to be an impossibly dramatic finish now. Atlético returns to action next Sunday against last-place Eibar. That’s obviously a must-win for Simeone and company. 

Real Madrid plays Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday and then 15th-place Getafe in LaLiga next Sunday. Barcelona contests the Copa del Rey final against Athletic next Saturday and doesn’t return to league play until Apr. 22 against Getafe as well.        

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