Simeone’s Atletico on the ropes

– Atletico Madrid’s underwhelming start to the season might have been overshadowed by the crisis enveloping city rivals Real but there will be no place to hide against Borussia Dortmund tonight.

A fortnight ago Dortmund dealt Diego Simeone’s side a 4-0 drubbing, Atletico’s heaviest defeat since the coach took charge 392 matches ago, while on Saturday they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Leganes, 18th in La Liga.

This was supposed to be Atletico’s year, primed for a title challenge by some impressive signings in the summer and eyeing a run at the Champions League, pumped by the prospect of a final inside their own Wanda Metropolitano in June.

Their failings against Dortmund and Leganes were more striking because they were caused by weaknesses in defence, their strong point under Simeone (pictured).

Dortmund hit three in 10 minutes at the Signal Iduna Park, while on Saturday Leganes equalised thanks to lax marking at a free-kick.

Their backline in recent years has been the hardest to breach in Europe. “Nobody has the perfect way of playing,” Simeone said last week. “It is about a pursuit of winning.”

Weaker defending has placed greater demand on the attack but Antoine Griezmann’s partnership with Diego Costa, so effective last season, appears to have lost its spark.

Costa has one goal all season and is yet to get off the mark in La Liga. – AFP