Ranking Atletico Madrid's Top 5 Players for March 2016
Atletico Madrid had a busy March in which their season seemed to slip away from them a little due to injuries and bad luck, but after Jornada 31 in April, maybe all isn't quite as bad as it seemed.
In looking at Atleti's most in-form players, who will be needed to come up big against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League for the quarter-finals, we've assessed each of Los Colchoneros' games in March to rank their best five players overall. Technical performance, consistency and contribution to the overall tactical plan of the team are considered, not just statistical output.
The matches included are:
3-0 win vs. Real Sociedad, La Liga
3-1 win vs. Valencia, La Liga
3-0 win vs. Deportivo La Coruna, La Liga
0-0 draw vs. PSV Eindhoven, Champions League
2-1 loss vs. Sporting Gijon, La Liga
5. Koke
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Before we begin, a brief honourable mention for Juanfran and Filipe Luis. The full-backs have had a couple of particularly good games of late but just miss out here.
First up in our rankings then is Koke, the versatile midfield performer who saw a definite upturn in his displays over February and then into March.
Playing both centrally and from the sides of midfield depending on Diego Simeone's tactical needs, Koke has worked extremely hard as always but has also had far more impact moving into the final third. He has been involved in buildup play, made some excellent runs behind the defence to create chances in more than one game and claimed assists against both Valencia and Deportivo.
Koke hasn't consistently hit his own heights this season, but a strong finish to the campaign can still help the team in Europe.
4. Josema Gimenez
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With Diego Godin out injured more than once and the defence having something of a makeshift look about it at times, someone had to step up centrally.
Josema Gimenez was that person, playing a pivotal role to ensure Atleti's defence remained as rock solid as ever—right up to the moment he went off injured against Sporting after chasing back a ball with the rest of his team out of position.
Aerially dominant, fearless in challenging and impressive with his organisation and communication in Godin's absence, Gimenez continued his maturity and took on more responsibility within the team.
3. Gabi
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Speaking of responsibility, Gabi had undoubtedly his best month of the season so far in March, producing some huge performances and dictating the tempo of his team's game in Europe in particular.
If PSV was as close as Gabi has come to his all-action displays of the title-winning season, his 90 minutes against Deportivo weren't far off and even alluded a little more to his ability to affect play in the attacking half of the pitch.
If he maintains this kind of performance until season's end, Atleti still have a chance for silverware, but they need the captain to continue raising his own game, to inspire others even further.
2. Saul
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One of La Liga's finest, never mind just Atletico Madrid, in March.
Saul continued his excellent run of form with a series of pivotal games, filling no less than five roles for the team in the course of the month: emergency centre-back, just off the striker, both sides of midfield and central, his best position.
Surging forward with pace and power to good effect, battling in midfield like few others can and making decisive impacts in both penalty boxes, Saul was at times the biggest driving force in keeping Atletico in the title hunt.
He scored twice during the month.
1. Antoine Griezmann
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Top of the charts for Los Rojiblancos in March has to be Antoine Griezmann.
After a downturn a few months back, the French forward has exploded back into form, rattling in four goals in the five games as well as notching an assist.
His pace and dribbling are features of his game, but his unerring shots when confident and in form are the most important facets for Atleti as a team. Griezmann will shoot from any range when the goals are flowing; the various types of goals he netted in the month are testament to that.
With every other part of the team working, Atletico are extremely tough to beat, but with Griezmann back in form, they're even harder to prevent from winning.
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