'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2. Antoine Griezmann too far removed from the play to influence proceedings.
Did he even play this match? I’ve rarely seen Atletico’s most vaunted threat, and La Liga’s hottest player (purely in terms of current form), be as non-existent and have as little to do with the flow of the game as today. He looked stranded on the pitch – not a part of the midfield, not a striker in the true sense of the term. He drifted slightly deeper to try and do something from his favourite trequartista role, but Simeone’s current 4-4-2 allows little leeway for that movement.
As he moved further forward he was bullied - outmuscled and outpaced by the excellent Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. Golden Locks astray, shoulders drooping, Griezmann cut a desolate figure on the same venue where he had nicked in with a last minute equaliser less than a month ago.
As poor as everyone else in a black shirt was today – it’s Griezmann’s performance that will hurt Simeone the most.
