Antoine Griezmann seems to have regained form. The French striker, interesting since the start of the season, was the main actor in the victory of Atlético de Madrid at Betis (2-1), Sunday October 23. This bodes well for his training, but also for the France team, one month before the World Cup in Qatar.
Already progressing in recent weeks, the Mâconnais may have experienced the liberation match this Sunday in Andalusia. Griezmann scored his first league double there with Atlético for almost four years (against Valladolid, in December 2018), and with style. Freed from the contractual bickering between FC Barcelona and his club, which systematically nailed him to the bench at the start of matches, the Habs revived and regained their instincts.
His opening of the score, a direct corner full of cunning, is the shining proof. “I had to hit that corner on the closed side, hard, and I needed luckhe reacted to the Movistar channel. I am very happy.“
☑ Thanks to a double from Antoine Griezmann including a direct corner, Atlético de Madrid won against Real Betis and ranked 3rd in #LaLigaSantander.
☑Double from Griezmann and a goal from Fekir.⚽
Summary of the match #RealBetisAtleti !#LeyDeporteParaTodos #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/x8Tewbhakz— LaLiga (@LaLigaFRA) October 23, 2022
Now fully contractually engaged with the Colchoneros, Antoine Griezmann is once again becoming a top player. It’s as if his failed transfer to FC Barcelona in 2019, then his unconvincing return to Madrid last season, were finally digested. “Looks like we see the Griezmann at the level of his departure, welcomed his trainer Diego Simeone, at a press conference on Sunday. Griezmann is a leader in the game. He’s back, and we need leaders in our game. I think something very important happened between him and his teammates.”
The 31-year-old thus concluded with a second goal the very good collective work accomplished in the 71st minute, on a strike placed subtly between the legs of the Betis goalkeeper. In his favorite role, behind the center forward, Antoine Griezmann can create as much as threaten the opponent. Atlético is registering a reinforcement of choice, at a time when the club is suffering from an attacking deficit that has become chronic. Again this Sunday, the Colchoneros did not attempt a single shot in the first period. “The coach and my teammates need me to develop at this level. I will give my all on the pitch and continue like this.” promised the Frenchman.
He is now decisive on each of the last four days of the championship (three goals and two assists) and involved in almost half (8/18) of the achievements of his training. When he enters the Top 3 of the best scorers in the history of Atlético de Madrid, the club climbs on the podium of La Liga, on the evening of the 11th day.
His return comes at the right time for the France team, a month before the entry into the running of the Blues in Qatar, against Australia, on November 22. The selection of Didier Deschamps, in difficulty for several months, finds one of the key elements of the world title in 2018. For Griezmann, competition from Christopher Nkunku was starting to be pressing (11 goals already this season), while he has still not scored a single goal with the Blues in 2022, a series of nine games.