The fight for LaLiga has tightened after the last matchday with victories for FC Barcelona and Athletic Club along with the draw in the Madrid classic. In purely sporting terms, Atlético de Madrid can consider the result at Santiago Bernabéu positive after a very demanding match. The standout figure was undoubtedly Jan Oblak, who stopped most of Real Madrid's dangerous actions in a challenging second half.
Another piece of good news for the colchonero team is the strong performance of Josema Giménez, who returned as a starter in a defense that needs him at his best. Simeone and the coaching staff didn't want to rush him back after he suffered a muscle injury against Barça, allowing him to return in the comeback against Bayer Leverkusen at the Metropolitano. He is one of the indispensable pieces for the rojiblanco team to maintain solidity in defense, an essential requirement this season.
Josema Giménez, Leader in Defense
One of the most relevant aspects of this season, compared to the previous one, is the improvement in defense, something that greatly concerned Simeone. Atlético de Madrid experienced one of its worst seasons defensively, conceding more goals than usual under the Argentinian. In fact, the numbers were similar to the year they ended up relegated, exactly 25 years ago.
One of the reasons for this situation was the physical problems of footballers like Josema Giménez or Stefan Savic, who couldn't find consistency. The Uruguayan has always been expected to be the successor to Diego Godín, with whom he was able to grow both in the national team and the rojiblanco team. The arrival of Luis Piñedo has allowed for a radical change in physical preparation, providing a squad with much more stamina.
Message to Win LaLiga
Additionally, Josema Giménez is one of the leaders of the squad, something he demonstrated after the recent draw against Real Madrid, showing great ambition. "We needed clarity when attacking, if we had been a bit calmer we could have killed the game, but they with their fans tied the game," he explained. "When we combined, we could create two-on-one situations on the wing, but we didn't have the composure to create the greatest danger possible," he said about the chances of having been able to win.
Finally, he made it clear that the result felt insufficient, as the colchonero team had some chances that could have ended in a goal. It should be remembered that they haven't won at Santiago Bernabéu since 2016 thanks to a goal by Antoine Griezmann in the second half. Even so, the leadership is only one point away, and the schedule will allow the team to catch some stamina before facing the most decisive moment.