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| Griezmann celebrated after scoring the second goal. |
On an evening at the Cívitas Metropolitano that threatened to dissolve into another nightmare, and as "Cholismo" grappled with a palpable identity crisis, one man emerged to reset the tempo and remind everyone of his timeless value. Antoine Griezmann, the "Little Prince" who has accepted his new role as a "luxury substitute" this season, is still the answer.
With his wisdom and unmistakable talent, Griezmann is delivering a masterclass in professionalism. It is true he has lost his guaranteed starting position amidst Diego Simeone's continuous tactical experiments, yet he embraces his new role with a dignity and passion that are a genuine asset to Simeone and Atlético Madrid. In a match that had become a true stalemate, he settled it with two goals against Levante—that stubborn opponent who had equalized at 1-1 and threatened to defend a draw until the final whistle. Griezmann proved, once again, that he is priceless.
Simeone's Tactical Laboratory: Between Necessity and Experimentation
Atlético Madrid entered the match carrying the burden of their recent history against Levante, a team that had snatched six points from them on their last two visits to the Metropolitano. The intent was clear: settle the match early. But Simeone's initial lineup raised questions.
In the absence of Nico González, Álex Baena occupied the left-midfield position. This player, arguably the discovery of the season and one of La Liga's top creators, found himself in yet another new role. Behind him was Ruggeri, in an apparent attempt by Simeone to keep the Italian in the starting lineup and give him minutes. While it may be difficult to envision Ruggeri playing with the same intensity in decisive European encounters, Simeone is, at the very least, testing his utility in La Liga home games where the team is likely to dominate possession.
These experiments are part of Simeone's broader search for Atlético's 2025-2026 identity. The team appears caught between its traditional "Cholismo" DNA (defensive solidity and lethal transitions) and a desire to play a more possession-based style.
The First Half: Sterile Dominance and Fatal Fragility
Atlético began the match with immense pressure. The Rojiblancos moved the ball quickly across the pitch, targeting the spaces where they believed Calero's well-organized Levante might have weaknesses, especially between the center-backs and full-backs.
Hanco sent a precise 40-meter cross to Pablo Barrios in that vulnerable zone. The Moratalaz native, who has been in excellent form, failed to capitalize on his excellent first touch with a more decisive finish. Likewise, Sørloth, the Norwegian striker currently experiencing a clear crisis of confidence, failed to put any power into a curling shot provided by Barrios. Sørloth is one of those rare cases of a forward struggling for confidence, and his future is now in question.
Levante showed no signs of attacking threat, focusing solely on containing Atlético's reckless start. Before the first ten minutes had passed, the Rojiblancos had already earned half a dozen corners and created a few chances, but all lacked precision in the final touch.
Atlético's deserved goal finally came from an unexpected source. Excellent combination play between Giuliano Simeone (the son) and Barrios reached the byline. The dynamic midfielder's cross was deflected by the defender Dela and into his own net. It was an own goal, but a natural result of the sustained pressure.
In that excellent opening 15 minutes, Llorente, Giuliano, Barrios, and especially Baena, were heavily involved. Baena, the Almería native, has played in three different positions in the last four games and has been dominant in all of them: an attacking midfielder against Betis, a central midfielder against Sevilla, and this Saturday, on the left wing. Whether central or wide, his technical skill, speed of foot, and vision in the final third are devastating.
But, as is typical for Atlético this season, the punishment came from an obvious weakness: set pieces. Levante had been completely absent from the game. There was no sign of their most decisive players, Carlos Álvarez and Etta Eyong. Suddenly, Calero's team found themselves with a corner kick that exposed all of Simeone's defensive frailties. Manu Sánchez, completely unmarked, darted from the edge of the box and powered a header past Oblak. The stunned expression on Giménez's face and Simeone's furious recoil on the sideline made the embarrassment clear. Atlético had 15 corners and failed to convert, while their opponent capitalized on their one and only.
This goal boosted Levante's morale and visibly rattled Atlético and their fans at the Metropolitano. The first half ended in negative dominance and growing anxiety.
The Second Half: The Prince Intervenes and Saves the Day
Atlético Madrid returned with vigor after the break, but with the same accuracy problems in the final pass. A surgical intervention from Simeone was necessary. The Argentine manager replaced the frustrated Sørloth and the exhausted Barrios, bringing on the fiery duo of Thiago Almada and Antoine Griezmann.
The substitutions were risky, as Barrios had been the one driving the team forward, but their impact was immediate. Baena moved into central midfield to make way for Griezmann. In the very first play after the change, just 28 seconds after his introduction, the machine started working. Baena made a clever penetrating pass to Giuliano, who laid it off to Llorente, who in turn slid a perfect low cross to Griezmann. The "Prince" tapped it into the net. A textbook goal in collective movement and swift finishing. The "Griezmann effect" had instantly ignited the stadium.
Levante, however, did not surrender. The visiting team managed to regain their composure and nearly scored a fatal equalizer from another corner. This time, however, Jan Oblak was ready, brilliantly clawing away Koialipou's shot off the line to prevent a certain goal.
After that terrifying scare, Griezmann decided it was time to end the affair. He pounced like a true poacher on a loose ball inside the box, burying it into the net to declare the third goal and the goal that brought relief.
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| Atletico Madrid are third in the standings |
The Undying Value of "Grizou"
This 3-1 victory means more than just three points. It is a confirmation that Atlético Madrid, despite its identity crisis and Simeone's experiments, still possesses a world-class player capable of changing games in moments. Griezmann, with his intelligence, sacrifice, and acceptance of his new role, is the bridge between Simeone's old guard and the new talents like Baena and Barrios. He is the "super sub" who guarantees competitiveness, and a player who simply cannot be benched. Griezmann is still the heartbeat.