Why is Atletico de Madrid Struggling this season?
When the 2023/24 La Liga season began in August last year, not many people had predicted that Atletico Madrid would win the title, considering that Real Madrid had invested heavily in the summer and Barcelona were the defending champions. The majority considered the two La Liga giants to be La Liga title favourites this season.
However, after Barca and Real Madrid, the third team considered most likely to win the league at the beginning of the season was Diego Simeone's Atletico de Madrid side.
Los Colchoneros were seen in that light because of their recent history in the league. The reason is that Atletico has been the only team that has consistently challenged Real Madrid and Barcelona in the last decade.
Simeone's side is the only team other than Barcelona or Real Madrid to win the title since Valencia under Rafa Benitez in 2004. They have won it twice in that period, most recently lifting the trophy in the 2020/21 season.
They have also consistently maintained a top-four place over the last five seasons, with Los Colchoneros finishing within the top three in the last eleven seasons.
Simply put, Atletico de Madrid tickets have been the third-hottest in La Liga for the past dozen years.
But this season, Atletico look like they have lost their bearings as they are struggling domestically. They are out of the title race and are also battling to secure Champions League football next season.
They sit in fifth place, trailing third-placed Girona by ten points with nine games to play. Diego Simeone's side were also knocked out from the Copa del Rey by Athletic Club, who thumped them 4-0 on aggregate.
They have managed to scrap through to the Champions League quarterfinals, though, and they will face Borussia Dortmund.
Los Colchoneros beat Inter Milan in the previous round, but narrowly, with Jan Oblak's heroics and the magic of the Wanda Metropolitano the reason they won the tie.
But why is Atletico Madrid seemingly struggling this season?
Why is Girona, not them, the third-best team in La Liga this season? Why are Real Madrid and Barcelona so far ahead of them this season?
We look at four likely causes of Atletico de Madrid's domestic struggles in the 2023/24 season.
Previous Success
It is safe to say that Atletico Madrid are victims of their own recent success in La Liga. It may sound cliche, but Los Colchoneros have consistently punched above their weight in the last eleven seasons, as they have successfully taken on clubs with fatter wallets and richer history in Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Quite frankly, no one expected them to become a force in Spanish football in the second decade of the 21st Century. Their ascent to the pinnacle of Spanish football was a miracle in 2013 and has remained so even though we have become used to it.
Before winning the title in the 2013/14 season, Atletico had only finished inside La Liga's top three once–the 2012/13 season. Before that, the capital club was a giant struggling to rise, with several false dawns heralded by star names like Diego Forlan, Fernando Torress, and Kun Aguero.
However, after Diego Simeone became the club's manager in 2011, Los Colchoneros began to rise, winning the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2012.
Yet no one expected them to stay consistently inside La Liga's top three from thereon, given that they had finished 7th and 9th in the two seasons before Simeone became manager.
So, winning the title just three seasons after finishing in ninth position was a miracle, and if we are being honest, Atletico's consistency inside La Liga's top three is also a miracle.
We have become used to their success, but it is safe to remember at this stage that they are up against the two most valuable clubs in world football, who have won 67% of the league titles in Spain.
The point is that Atletico Madrid may be performing below expectation, but it is safe to say that they have found their actual level, and anything extra is a bonus.
That said, fans have become used to enjoying the bonus and will hold them accountable when they fail to deliver.
Lack of New Signings
Another major factor affecting Atletico de Madrid this season is their lack of new signings.
The Spanish club have been relatively quiet in the last two transfer windows, spending just €54.50 million on transfer fees in the 2023/24 season. More than 40% of that fee was spent to sign Antoine Griezmann from Barcelona (€22 million).
Arthur Vermeeren, who was signed from Royal Antwerp for €18 million, and Samu Omorodion, who joined from Granada CF for €6 million, are the only other players who cost Atletico substantial sums this season.
César Azpilicueta and Gabriel Paulista joined for free, making Atletico's 2023/24 transfer season quiet.
This lack of new signings is undoubtedly one of Atletico's major issues this season. The bulk of the club's players are old-timers who have been at the club for at least five seasons.
These players are not just old-timers; they are also aged, with Atletico Madrid, the team with the second-oldest squad in La Liga this season, having an average age of 28.7.
Although Diego Simeone isn't one to complain about a lack of transfers, a lack of investment in the team is costing Atletico this season.
The club has spent just €160 million on new players in the last three seasons.
For context, Real Madrid has spent €241 million on quality signings within the last three seasons, while Barcelona, though broke, has spent almost €300 million on signings in six windows.
The last time Atletico invested in quality signings was in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, and they won one title in those two seasons. The current team has reached their best level and will continue to struggle unless the club invests smartly next summer.
Girona's and Atheltic Bilbao's Form
Another factor that has made Atletico look weak this season is the form of Athletic Club and Girona. The former is the team looking to displace Simeone's side from the top four, while the latter is the team that has taken their place as the third-best team in La Liga this season.
It is not like Atletico is not performing below what we expect, but it has not dropped too far from its level in the last seven seasons.
They have already suffered eight losses this season but lost nine times in the 2021/22 season and still finished third. They also won just 70 points in the 2019/20 season but still finished third in La Liga.
At their current average point-per-game, they will end the season with 73.4 points, which will be more than their points haul in two of their last four seasons when they finished third.
Yet that may not be enough to guarantee them a top-four finish this season, proving that Atletico's season is seemingly poor because other teams have improved.
Terrible Away form
Another huge factor that is affecting Atletico Madrid is their away form.
Diego Simeone's side has been terrible away from the Metropolitano Stadium this season, with Los Colchoneros suffering seven out of their eight league losses away from home.
They have scored 56 times in the league this term, but only 22 of those goals have come on their travels.
In contrast, their home form is only bettered by Real Madrid, who have picked up one point more than they have as the hosts. Atletico fans have been instrumental in pushing their team at home.
But away from home, it has been a nightmare for Simeone's side domestically and in Europe.
Solving that poor form away should help get them back on their feet.
