On one hand, it’s commendable and remarkable that Atletico Madrid are one point off the top of La Liga despite their lead striker having scored zero goals in nine league games.
On the other, however, Atletico would be much better served if Diego Costa could start scoring again.
The Brazil-born Spain striker made a much-celebrated return to the club in January, having left for Chelsea in 2014, and promptly scored on his second debut. But he hasn’t scored a league goal since February.
He does actually have three goals this season, having scored twice during Atletico’s UEFA Super Cup win over hated rivals Real Madrid right at the start of the season, and then another against Monaco in the Champions League.
But there’s no doubt that Atletico are struggling with their main striker being short of form – and fitness; he’s played only twice since the start of October.
Antoine Griezmann is the side’s leading scorer in the league with three goals, just ahead of Diego Godin and Filipe Luis – their centre-back and left-back. That’s unsustainable if Atletico are serious about a title charge, even if they are a team that relies on defensive brilliance rather than free-flowing attacking.
And it’s not as if Costa is simply failing to convert chances, a state of affairs that would allow the team to hope he could simply rediscover his touch in front of goal. The striker averages just one shot per game in La Liga, and 1.1 overall this season.
That speaks to a lack of service as well, but he isn’t doing much in attack on his own, either. He’s managed just nine key passes all season, no assists and a chance creation rate of 0.75 per game across competitions.
Simply put, Costa is having no impact at all.
Atletico are hopeful that the recent international break has done him good, as he continued to recover from the niggling injury issues that have kept him from hitting his best level this season.
But he needs to find his form soon. It’s league leaders Barcelona who are up next.
