Antoine Griezmann has become Atlético Madrid’s best player again. Koke looks for him to create, Pablo Barrios finds him and the Frenchman has a wonderful understanding with João Félix.
When Griezmann has the ball, Atlético play better. He was superb as Atlético beat Second Division outfit Real Oviedo 2-0 to advance to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Against Oviedo, he completed 63 of the 75 passes he attempted (84% success rate) and 35 of them came in the opposition half, as reported by AS.
Griezmann was the team’s top passer, ahead of Witsel (57) who played as a central defender and Hermoso (51) who had to be substituted early. Griezmann also made seven recoveries, demonstrating how good he also is as a midfielder.
Atlético host Barcelona at the Cívitas Metropolitano in La Liga on Sunday and the Frenchman will face his former club. At Camp Nou, he wasn’t at his best. He scored goals and provided assists, but appeared in dribs and drabs. It was not his place. He was not at home. The play did not go through him and he lost the freedom that had made him so great under Diego Simeone and Didier Deschamps.
Griezmann is Griezmann again. He is a very different player from the one who left Atlético. He has a new role and is brimming with confidence after a strong World Cup with Les Bleus. With a new hairstyle and a smile on his face, everything is better with Antoine Griezmann.
Kieran Quaile | GSFN
