Football Season Guide

For the second time in three years, Atletico Madrid have to pick themselves up after the devastating disappointment of a Champions League final defeat to their city rivals Real Madrid. The Colchoneros have enjoyed a period of success under Diego Simeone not seen at the club since the middle of the 20th century and nobody underestimates the achievement of competing toe to toe with Real and Barcelona in Spain, but that does not change the fact that they were trophyless in 2015-16, finishing three points behind La Liga winners Barcelona and Champions League runners-up despite their superior technical display to Zinedine Zidane’s men in the Milan final. Most importantly for the club and the supporters, Diego Simeone remains at the helm and Atleti will again be challengers in 2016-17. This is a difficult team to improve. For a long time this summer, speculation suggested that former striker Diego Costa was the main target for Simeone. Both the Chelsea player and the club looked keen on a reunion but the Londoners refused to sell so Atletico’s attention turned instead to Sevilla forward Kevin Gameiro and, once in motion, a deal was wrapped up quite quickly. The Frenchman even resisted the lure of Barcelona – where he inevitably would have spent most of his time on the bench – in order to play at the Vicente Calderon. He and Antoine Griezmann will line-up together in an all-France attacking line-up. In support, either Yannick Ferreira Carrasco or new signing Nicolas Gaitan could also feature in a 4-3-3 formation. Gaitan, brought in from Benfica, has been particularly impressive in pre-season, even if Atletico’s results have been mixed. They may be the only players to come straight into the team. Diogo Jota, Sime Vrsaljko and Axel Werner have also linked up with the club but can expect supporting roles initially. Luciano Vietto, Matias Kranevitter and Jesus Gamez have been shown the exit door but the squad is still a bit bloated, especially with loanees coming back in and there could be several more departures before the transfer window closes. The squad looks marginally stronger than the one which reached the Champions League final and finished three points behind La Liga Champions Barcelona last season, so we probably won’t see any more major additions. After starring for France in Euro 2016, Antoine Griezmann will again dominate headlines on the Manzanares Riviera and the Colchoneros will be hoping for another prolific season from him. Kevin Gameiro’s proven goal-scoring pedigree should hopefully make up for the disappointing returns of Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto last term. He will compete with Fernando Torres for the lead number nine position but Torres, for all his reputation and industry – it was enough to earn him a contract renewal which didn’t always seem forthcoming – probably has to accept that Gameiro will be in the ascendancy. Gaitan, who is quick of feet and of thought, could be a huge addition if he fulfils his early promise. The back five of goalkeeper and defenders won’t be subject to much change, while Saul Niguez, Koke and Gabi will have welcome competition with Tiago Mendes finally fit following a devastating leg fracture in late 2015. Diego Simeone will claim 3rd place is the target but he is fooling nobody and Atleti will be title challengers. This team has reached two out of the last three Champions League finals and feel they have unfinished business in that competition.