Griezmann struggling as Barcelona struggles to retain title
Antoine Griezmann arrived at the Camp Nou last year expecting to complete an intimidating attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
One year later, the World Cup champion from France can barely get on the field as Barcelona tries to defend its Spanish league title.
Griezmann was left out of the starting lineup for the second straight game on Tuesday when Barcelona hosted Atlético Madrid, the Frenchman’s former club, in a game it needed to win to stay neck-to-neck with league leader Real Madrid.
Instead, Barcelona coach Quiqué Setién opted to start 20-year-old midfielder Riqui Puig as a fourth midfielder.
After having Griezmann warming up on the sideline for most of the second half, Setién sent him on in the 90th minute even though his team had
conceded an equalizer nearly half an hour before.
No miracle goal came, and the 2-2 draw left Barcelona one point behind Madrid, which can open a four-point lead with five games remaining if it beats Getafe on Thursday (Friday morning, PH time). Madrid also holds the tiebreaker if they finish even on points.
In July 2019, Barcelona
120 million euros (then paid $134 million) to trigger the buyout clause in Griezmann’s contract with Atlético, where he had emerged as one of Europe’s top forwards. In his five seasons at Atletico, he scored 133 goals and helped the team win a Europa League title, a Spanish Super Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.
Griezmann started off the season well enough, scoring eight goals before the winter break. But his numbers started to dwindle and he has yet to score since the resumption of the league after a three-month stoppage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As his goal production has decreased, so have his minutes.
Barcelona now needs Madrid to slip up and improve its own performances to win a third straight league title.
The question is whether Griezmann can be a piece of that comeback plan.