The numbers have the habit of speaking out loud and are usually quite sneaky. Atletico warn that, so far, his potential scorer is one short goal per game. The Alavés reveal that only the Granada stadium of Los Cármenes, that of the surprising leader, is as armored as Mendizorroza: he has received somewhat in five games (he was scored by Sevilla's Joan Jordan, of direct free, a month and a half ago). Figures that do not suggest the least romanticism in another face to face between Simeone and Garitano. Although this time it will be Asier and not Gaizka, like three days ago in Wanda. "The game will be tough," Cholo ventures.

Only seven months ago, Atlético had no mercy on that fort that is now Mendizorroza. He arrived in full crisis of faith after being abruptly kicked out of the Champions League by Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin and falling in San Mamés . His response, that night of March 30, was to go to Madrid with a 0-4. His biggest win of last season and the most bulky until today. In fact, there Diego Costa scored his last goal of the course. It was a whip from outside the area, adjusted to one of the sticks, that Pacheco barely sniffed. It was his second game as a starter in LaLiga after his foot operation and he left injured to rest. After that night, I would only play 28 more minutes. What he lived in the Camp Nou until his expulsion for the already famous: «I fall in your p ... mother».

Except in that pre-season derby in the United States (he scored four goals) and the odd summer ticket, Costa has not smiled again. Quite the contrary. His only two goals this season (against Mallorca and Valencia), have been accompanied by a shy gesture of celebration. The party in his two goals has been made by his companions, eager, as his coach, to recover that aggressive, powerful and lethal forward against the opposing goal. " Diego Costa transmits fear," Simeone slipped in the early days of the Spanish-Brazilian after his return from Chelsea.

«Each one has a different personality and shows himself outward with his own personality», justified yesterday the coach rojiblanco Costa, after his gestures of frustration in the 23 minutes he walked on the grass of the Metropolitan, in the game on Saturday to Athletic. When he seemed to be himself again, in a galloping full of power, the doorman Simon sent him to the ground. He failed to give one and went to the locker room to the race, while his teammates said goodbye to the stands. "I see Diego very happy that Morata has scored in the last two games because he is a very good partner and they are friends," insisted Simeone, who continues to do therapy with him, trusting that one day, some night ...

Morata also marked that last visit to Mendizorroza. It was his fourth target since his landing in January. After his two goals in two games (Leverkusen and Athletic), he has put the firm to nine goals of the 50 that Atlético has scored in 2019. Only Griezmann , with 10, has had more aim than the Madrid striker. "I see him much freer and looser," explained his master yesterday, who pressed the red and white club as much as he could (and a little more) to recruit him. On his state of grace, among other things, it will depend that Simeone remain undefeated against Alavés and that Atlético throw down the Vitorian fort.

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