Why 18 Goals Is Realistic Aim for Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in 2015/16
Antoine Griezmann was one of La Liga's biggest success stories last season, making the move from Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid and left-winger to centre-forward—and ending as one of the top scorers in the league, with only the big two of Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo notching more than him.
It wasn't enough to yield major success for Atletico, though, as they finished third in La Liga and didn't add a trophy to their Super Cup triumph.
With offensive additions aplenty to the Atleti squad this summer, the pressure will be on Griezmann and Co. to deliver—but the French forward is more than capable of performing just as well and scoring close to the 22 he netted last term.
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Vietto, Martinez, Torres
Big signings Luciano Vietto and Jackson Martinez arrive at the Vicente Calderon with different reputations. The former is a lively, youthful talent who can help construct and finish attacks in equal measure; the latter is a proven scorer who should add power, physicality and direct running to the starting XI.
Griezmann should pair up marvellously with either, with his ability to drop deeper and link play or else run in behind the opposition defence. He is a proven man, both in the league and in Diego Simeone's team, and both those traits are vital.
Fernando Torres, meanwhile, looks a little like a man reborn. He showed glimpses last season that his energy and movement were coming back, inspired perhaps by his home surroundings and the demands of Simeone, but this pre-season he looks sharper, more trim and full of confidence. If even half of the 2008-vintage Torres appears this season, Atleti have another double-figures striker available right away.
It all means plenty of choice, the potential for rotation and an array of firepower that will be the envy of many in both La Liga and the Champions League this season.
Pre-Season Styles
Atletico have mainly used their 4-4-2 system over summer, but Simeone has dabbled with 4-3-3 at times, too, and it's likely that both will be used over the season. In the former, Griezmann is, of course, one of the two forwards; in the latter, he would be most effective from the right, still being able to be a goal threat as well as an outlet in open play.
Atleti will still be a direct, counter-attacking team with frequency—that much has been made evident during the pre-season games—but they will also hope that a greater technical level in midfield helps them to be more offensive-minded and more reliant on their own ability to break teams down in open play.
To that end, Griezmann has excelled in both. His opening goal against Shanghai SIPG was a prime example of Atletico on the counter: As soon as the ball is moved into midfield he begins a run into the channel, looking to open play and provide an out-ball for his team. His pace, control and an immense finish did the rest.
Having shown his clinical edge over the last eight months, there is no reason to think Griezmann will be anything other than elite in La Liga once more this term.
First Choice
A stacked front line Diego Simeone might have, but Griezmann looks set to remain as the No. 1 pick and rightly so.
It isn't unreasonable to expect them to improve on their 67-goal tally from last season, considering their additions and ambitions. For Martinez, given his first season in Spain, the different style he brings and the better opposition he'll face, we recently predicted a return of 15 would represent success for him this year—but Griezmann is capable of more.
He might not get the 22 he managed last term, though he's absolutely capable of bettering it, considering most of his came in the second half of the season last year, but positional rotations may cull the number slightly.
In any case, if he reaches the 18 mark he can be satisfied he has contributed in a big way—but don't be surprised if he utterly explodes in this improved Atletico team and gets much closer to 25.
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