Atlético enters the knockout phase atop their group, riding a wave of confident, attacking football under Antoine Griezmann. After last season’s stumble, the club has flipped the script and looks ready to chase multiple trophies this season, with Griezmann anchoring a squad that believes in its depth and momentum. He combines skill, a powerful shot, and a clear sense of purpose that keeps opponents wary and fans hopeful.
Griezmann Always Delivers
Against Lazio, Diego Simeone fielded a hybrid lineup, resting Morata, Riquelme, and Koke while rewarding merit with minutes for others. The draw felt earned, yet Samu Lino’s effort shortly after changed the mood. He chased a ball, retrieved it from memory, and delivered a pass to Griezmann, who stepped onto the ball with his trademark confidence and fired it home with his right foot.
Antoine’s 27th goal of 2023 and his fifth in this season’s Champions League eased the tension that followed the early pressure. The Romans, appearing slightly sluggish for an Italian side, never seriously threatened Oblak. Simeone adjusted the team’s pressing line, pushing the pressure higher and tightening the build-up near the Provedel area. About half an hour in, Hermoso sent a curling cross toward goal, but Lino blocked the shot before it could find the net, keeping the score intact for the moment.
Luis Aragones was two goals away from equality when the night swung decisively in favor of Atlético.
Griezmann is at his best. #LaCasadelFútbol #UCL pic.twitter.com/jIiafCPHKD
— Football on Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) December 13, 2023
In the second half, Simeone rotated his squad, giving minutes to Giménez, Soyuncu, Memphis, and others while Griezmann and Atlético tucked in, waiting for a decisive moment. The first sustained attack of the half saw Lino score again, exploiting a lapse in clearance and sealing the win for the red-and-white side. The crowd could celebrate a comfortable lead and a strengthened position at the top of Group F as the clock wound down on another memorable Champions League night for Atlético.
Steady Progress and Strong Form
It is a pity the round of 16 won’t arrive until February, because Simeone’s team is enjoying a period of sustained form and has turned the Metropolitano into a fortress. This victory over Lazio marks Atlético’s twentieth straight win in all competitions, with the majority coming in the league and several in Europe, echoing the club’s best winning run from years past. The late minutes were calm, with both coaches pressing final substitutions as the result stabilized. Memphis Depay’s foul on Provedet did not unsettle Atlético, a sign of the team’s growing control against Lazio, who did little to threaten the lead.
Cholo’s squad is among the top scoring sides in the group, while also showing grit in defense. The blend of Morata’s refinement, Lino’s sharpness, and Nahuel Molina’s reliable runs has given Atlético a distinctive edge. Griezmann’s goal secured the group lead, and now the draw for the next round promises a challenging yet exciting test. The club’s leadership has long hinted that the path forward would be favorable, and this season’s early results reinforce that confidence. If the plan holds, opponents such as Copenhagen, PSV, Napoli, Inter, PSG, Porto, or Leipzig will approach the next matchday with a clear understanding of Atlético’s ambition and capability.