Held to a goalless game at home by Villarreal on Sunday, Diego Simeone's side failed to score against 10-man PSV on Wednesday and their Champions League hopes hang in the balance
It is a worrying trend. Atletico Madrid remain one of the most difficult teams to beat in European football, but their lack of goals means they are unlikely to compete for major titles at the moment. And to have any hope of winning the Champions League, they must start scoring soon.
Atletico were held at home by Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday and even though coach Diego Simeone put a positive spin on that result, it saw the Rojiblancos slip eight points behind Barcelona in the title race. It is a deficit they are unlikely to make up and a tough trip to city rivals Real Madrid follows on Saturday.
Tipped by many as a potential dark horse in the Champions League, Atleti's hopes hang in the balance there too after another blank on Wednesday. The Spanish side created the better chances away to PSV Eindhoven, but failed to convert even when the home side were reduced to 10 men.
Antoine Griezmann has scored 19 times this term, but had netted only one in his last seven in all competitions prior to this one and the France forward missed the best chance when he raced clear, only to shoot straight at PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet.
Luciano Vietto, a lively presence in his time on the pitch, also came close with an effort that was cleared off the line. The Argentine, a summer signing from Villarreal, has scored only three times since making that move.
Meanwhile, substitute Fernando Torres, who has just four goals in 28 appearances in 2015-16, was well off target with one shot and saw another deflected over the bar. Angel Correa (who has netted five this term), was also unable to provide the spark to give Atleti a win they should have taken back to the Vicente Calderon and Jackson Martinez is no longer at the club following his surprise signing for Guangzhou Evergrande at the beginning of February and the Colombian scored only five in his six-month spell at Atletico anyway.
The situation is reminiscent of Jose Mourinho on his return to Chelsea in 2013-14. "I have no strikers," the Portuguese often lamented - even though he had about five. Like the Blues back then, Atleti have plenty of forward players. But they are simply not scoring goals.
Interestingly, Mourinho solved the problem by bringing in Diego Costa from Atletico. And ever since the departure of the Brazil-born striker (who Atleti would like to bring back next summer), Simeone's side have struggled somewhat in attack. Mario Mandzukic scored goals last season, but never seemed the right fit for his coach, while Vietto and Correa look like players for the future, Torres is a shadow of the forward he once was and Jackson's failure remains a mystery.
FULL STORY | Atleti held by 10-man PSV
The loss of Arda Turan as a creative presence in midfield has hurt Atletico as well, but Simeone's side should still have enough quality to be scoring many more goals than they are at the moment.
"It's obvious we have a problem scoring at the moment," Filipe Luis told television cameras on BeIN Sports after the game. "Now we have to win the match at home. There's nothing more to it."
A 0-0 draw away from home is no longer considered a good result in European ties. Just ask Chelsea. Mourinho's men held Simeone's side to a goalless game at the Calderon in the semi-finals back in 2013-14, but lost 3-1 at home to miss out on a place in the final.
It is hard to imagine Atletico scoring three at this level at the moment, but Simeone said: "I'm very happy with my players. The goals will come. We have to keep insisting. I'm more patient than anyone."
At some point, however, Atletico will need to start scoring. So far this season, the Rojiblancos have netted 55 in their 37 games in all competitions, conceding just 19. And while their impressive defence always gives them a chance, this tie against PSV is up in the air when it should really already be over.
Fans of the Dutch side celebrated the result as if it were a win after the final whistle and no wonder as they avoided defeat following the dismissal of midfielder Gaston Pereiro with a quarter of the match left to play.
So PSV still have hope of progressing to the last eight and although Atletico will be favourites at the Calderon, they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey recently by Celta Vigo after a 0-0 draw away from home and must fear a similar scenario this time around.
On top of that, Champions League contenders Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all scored two goals away from home in their respective first-leg matches over the last week, while Manchester City managed three in Kiev. So if Atletico are to have a shot of competing for the title this season along with those teams, the goals really need to flow soon.
- Goal