Manager Diego Simeone, who has won no fewer than eight trophies as Atletico boss, could therefore be forgiven for hinting last week that this season could be his last, particularly with his club having nothing more than a top-four finish to target.
Atletico Madrid
Back-to-back wins ‘to nil’ against Valladolid and Osasuna is probably the best indication that Atletico Madrid’s season is almost back on track, even if their time in the Copa del Rey came to an end in between. The latter is probably a blessing in disguise. With no cup or continental commitments remaining for the rest of 2022/23, they can focus exclusively on keeping the likes of Villarreal and Real Betis from snatching their place inside the top four. Manager Diego Simeone, who has won no fewer than eight trophies as Atletico boss, could therefore be forgiven for hinting last week that this season could be his last, particularly with his club having nothing more than a top-four finish to target. But there have been no signs of poor motivation amongst his players, particularly in defence, where they have conceded just two goals from their last five La Liga games.
Getafe
Low-scoring relegation battlers Getafe appear unlikely to hurt that defensive record, having registered just one multiple-goal haul (2-0 at home to Mallorca) from their last nine La Liga outings. They were hardly disgraced at home to top-six Betis at the weekend, repeating the result of their 1-0 loss to Barcelona the previous weekend. Honourable losses won’t help them climb out of the drop zone, however, nor will their slow starts, which are highlighted by their two first-half away goals scored across the entire La Liga season. Club President Angel Torres backed Quique Sánchez Flores to secure their survival in his third stint at the club, despite Getafe currently having just one less La Liga point than they did after 19 games last season when finishing a single point above relegation.
Alvaro Morata has opened the scoring in each of his last three competitive starts and recorded Atletico’s first two La Liga goals of the season in their 3-0 win away to Getafe. Enes Unal came close to equalising on that day, and he remains Getafe’s last La Liga goalscorer and the only one in their most recent away La Liga win. Getafe’s last seven La Liga losses were all by a one-goal margin.