15 as the magic number, the night of Griezmann and Witsel's grandmother: "I am happy and sad because I lost her this morning and I wanted to dedicate the goal to her"
It was an almost certain symbol, but it had to be marked. Perhaps the players wanted to give that 1 to their coach after his recent renewal to complete the full team at 15. There are fifteen consecutive victories at home in the domestic championship. The first time it happens in red and white history.
“Regularity is the most important thing. Girona is playing very well, it's nice to see them. Real Madrid and Barcelona are there as always. La Real does not have the points it deserves, but it plays well. “It's a very competitive season,” Diego Simeone highlighted at the end of the clash against Villarreal that his team won by three goals to one.
You have to go back to February 2023 to remember the last points that escaped the Metropolitano. Quique Sánchez Flores' Getafe was the rival that managed to get two points after tying with a penalty from Enes Unal in the last minutes of the match.. Since then: Athletic Club (1-0), Sevilla (5-1), Valencia (3-0), Real Betis (1-0), Almería (2-1), Mallorca (3-1), Cádiz (5 -1), Osasuna (3-0), Real Sociedad (2-1), Granada (3-1), Real Madrid (3-1), Cádiz (3-2), Real Sociedad (2-1), Deportivo Alavés (2-1) and, the last, Villarreal (3-1).
The closest streak dates back to 2012. The team linked 14 consecutive victories between that year and 2013. The difference is that the red and white home was another. At that time, although the tenant of the bench was also Simeone, the house was Vicente Calderón. On that occasion it was Real Sociedad that defeated the rojiblancos 0-1.
We recover the 15, which will be the years that Simeone will sit on the Atlético de Madrid bench if he fulfills the contract he signed this week. A contract that is a joy for the entire rojiblanco dressing room and especially for Griezmann, who also made an appointment to talk about his with Gil Marín despite the fact that his contract ends in 2026.. “Antoine has a present and future with the club and I hope he continues to accompany us,” Simeone asked.
Griezmann about to score the second against Villarreal. AFP
The Frenchman wants to be remembered in this club and every day he takes one more step. With his goal against Villarreal, he tied with Adrián Escudero as the club's second top scorer with 169 goals and the Argentine coach was already being asked if he would be one of the best players in red and white history. “Comparisons are not good. Antonie will remain in the history of the club and is the reference for the team's game,” he conceded..
The last 15 of the night is the one that Atlético broke with their victory. In the duels between the red and white and the yellow, there was maximum equality with 15 games each won and 14 draws. With last night's 3-1 it is now 16 for the colchoneros.
The comeback began with Witsel, with his first goal as a red and white player. The Dutchman, after completing a great pass from Griezmann, pointed to the sky. “I'm happy and sad because this morning I lost my grandmother. It's been a long time since I scored a goal and I wanted to dedicate it to her,” confessed the Dutchman.
Atlético maintains the pulse with those at the top and remains fourth with 28 points with one game less, which will be played on December 23 against Sevilla, which is not at its best. Neither is Villarreal, the yellows are fourteenth with just one victory in the last 5 games. They are waiting for Marcelino to try to straighten the submarine's course.