To date, it has been almost a perfect October for Atlético Madrid in La Liga. The Colchoneros have picked up 13 out of a possible 15 points this month. Last Saturday they beat Real Betis 2-1. The match ahead of the game against Bayer 04 ended in victory. This hard-fought win took Atléti up to third in the table and they are now the main challengers to the two big teams Real Madrid and Barcelona. "We kept calm at the end to secure three very important points," said Simeone commenting on the result.
The win at cup winners Real Betis is even more impressive as the club from Andalusia had previously won all of their last five home fixtures. Antoine Griezmann was the man of the match in Seville. The Frenchman, signed by Atletico from Barcelona, scored both of the goals for the visitors. And in a quite impressive manner. Griezmann opened the scoring from a corner (54’) and then nutmegged the Betis keeper Rui Silva with his weaker right foot (77'). Those were goals number four and five this season for the World Cup winner who has also provided three assists.
Griezmann has netted 147 goals in 308 games for Atletico – making him the third highest goalscorer in the club's history. Above all, coach Simeone is happy the 31-year-old has returned to top form in recent weeks. At the start of the season, he was only allowed to play 30 minutes per match due to his contractual position. Since no longer being on loan, with a contract to 2026 with Atlético, the Frenchman has flourished. "I'm happy to be there where I want to be," Griezmann shared on Twitter.
Fellow striker Alvaro Morata has also scored five goals in the league. And the Argentinian Angel Correa has found the back of the net three times. Joao Felix in contrast, the fourth star in the Colchoneros attack, has yet to score. At the same time, the Portuguese striker is rarely in Simeone it's starting eleven at the moment. The 22-year-old came off the bench on 76 minutes in Seville after not playing in the previous 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.
As well as Atlético are performing in La Liga, the recent results in the Champions League have been disappointing for the team from the capital. The 2-0 defeat at Bayer 04 was followed by a similar scoreline against Group B leaders Club Brugge. And the second meeting with the Flemish team ended in a goalless draw. Simeone's team dominated the match and at times produced some exciting attacking football but they let too many chances go begging. Brugge keeper Simon Mignolet was on sparkling form on the night as well.
The Rojiblancos are currently third in the group with four points and that's one point and one position ahead of the Werkself. The clash between the Red and Whites and the Black and Reds could be decisive in terms of playing in Europe after the group stage. If Atlético win they will have a good chance of reaching the Round of 16. Bayer 04 would then be out of Europe this term.
Simeone will have to manage without his injured captain Koke for the game against the Black and Reds. Marcos Llorente and Thomas Lemar are also ruled out through injury.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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