As the final whistle blew at El Sadar Stadium, Atletico Madrid’s players walked into the locker room with their heads down. The scene felt like a team with potential but no direction—capable yet consistently faltering at crucial moments.
The loss to Osasuna was not just about the 0-2 score; it exposed the underlying issues plaguing Atletico Madrid all season: dwindling hopes of winning the title and increasingly evident team problems.
Let’s start with their away form. Between August and December last year, Atletico lost just one of their nine away games, including wins against strong sides like Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. At that point, fans believed they had a real chance of challenging for the title. But by 2025, the situation had changed dramatically.
They played nine away games and, apart from against teams in poor form such as Sevilla and Valencia, they have hardly won any of them, either drawing or losing.
And what is most worrying is that they often drop points against lower-ranked opponents in the league. What does this tell us? It shows that the players are not focused enough in games and are unable to cope with pressure when they encounter difficulties.
Now let’s look at the left-side issue. This problem has persisted since the start of the season. Head coach Simeone has tried various midfielders on the left, including Koke, Barrios, and De Paul, making seven changes in total. However, none of these substitutions have yielded satisfactory results. Left-back Javier Garran has consistently failed to meet expectations in attack, while wingers Lino and Riquelme, who should be playing on the flanks, have not earned the coach’s trust.As a result, the left side has become the opponent’s main target, and the offense lacks width, making the entire tactic seem awkward.
The team’s performance has also been very inconsistent. Sometimes they play exceptionally well, such as in their 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad, with smooth coordination and sharp attacks. But just five days later, they were completely different against Osasuna, with few chances throughout the game.This inconsistent performance is not an isolated incident. After being eliminated from the Champions League and the King’s Cup, the team’s psychological pressure has increased, often conceding goals in the latter stages of matches, which indicates issues with physical conditioning and in-game adjustments.
Although Atletico Madrid boasts many star players, including six World Cup champions and Jan Oblak, who could become one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga history, they have yet to establish a “winning culture”—the mindset of fighting until the end and securing victory no matter the obstacles.
They are currently third in the league, which is clearly not good enough for a team with championship ambitions. The management must make changes in the summer. First, they need to solve the problem on the left side by signing suitable wingers or full-backs. Second, they need to strengthen the depth of their squad, as playing on multiple fronts takes a toll on the players.
For Simeone, who has been in charge of Atlético Madrid for 13 years, this summer is also crucial.Will he stick to his old ways and continue down the same path, or will he make bold adjustments to adapt to the changes in modern football? The answer to this question may determine the fate of Atlético Madrid in the coming years.
Overall, Atlético Madrid’s performance this season has been like a maze, with problems on the left wing, an inability to win away games, and inconsistent form. If they don’t want to repeat the same mistakes next season, they must reflect on their performance this summer and make changes.
