Diego Simeone is loving watching Antoine Griezmann adapt to his new function at Atletico Madrid because the ahead adjusts to taking part in fewer minutes.
Griezmann has began in simply 5 of his LaLiga appearances this season, taking part in simply 649 minutes in complete, with Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth each most popular by Simeone.
Nevertheless, the Frenchman got here off the bench to assist Atleti beat Valencia 2-1 final outing within the league, whereas he additionally scored a brace from the beginning of their Copa del Rey victory over Atletico Baleares.
Griezmann has scored 5 targets in LaLiga 2025-26, all of them coming from the bench, making him the very best scoring substitute in Europe’s prime 5 leagues this season.
Forward of their journey to Girona of their remaining match of 2025, Simeone highlighted the impression of Griezmann’s goalscoring type.
“It’s vital for him [to score] as a result of he’s happier, extra content material,” mentioned Simeone after their win over Baleares.
“It’s what he needs: to attain targets, assist the crew and go so far as potential in all competitions.
“He works very exhausting, I beloved it.”
We Fili pic.twitter.com/woitsLjQDv
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) December 20, 2025
Girona are 18th in LaLiga as a consequence of their inferior aim distinction in comparison with Osasuna’s, however their type of late has been constructive.
Together with a win over Actual Sociedad final weekend, Girona additionally secured attracts towards Actual Madrid and Actual Betis lately.
Simeone insisted that he’ll base his recreation plan on Girona’s current run of outcomes slightly than their season as a complete.
“I all the time take a look at opponents based mostly on their present type, and Girona are higher than they had been in the beginning of the season,” added Simeone.
“They’re coming off the again of some constructive outcomes, three or 4 matches wherein they’ve competed very nicely, comparable to towards Actual Madrid or coming again towards Actual Sociedad.
“They’re persevering with in the identical vein, with the brave fashion of play that generates the attacking soccer the supervisor needs. We’ll attempt to take the sport to the place we predict we are able to harm them.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Girona – Viktor Tsygankov
Viktor Tsygankov has been concerned in 4 of Girona’s final 5 LaLiga targets (three targets, one help).
In reality, he has already scored yet another league aim this season (three in 10 appearances) than he managed within the entirety of final time period (two in 27).
Atletico Madrid – Julian Alvarez
Alvarez has scored the fifth-most targets in LaLiga this season (seven) and was rested for his or her midweek Copa del Rey tie.
Nevertheless, the ahead has not discovered the again of the web within the Spanish top-flight since November 1 towards Sevilla.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLETICO MADRID WIN
Atleti are unbeaten in 4 of their 5 LaLiga visits to Girona (W2 D2 L1), together with their 4-0 win in Could 2025. Their solely defeat got here in January 2024 (4-3).
After failing to lose any of their first three LaLiga matches towards Atleti (D3), Girona have misplaced six of their subsequent seven towards the Rojiblancos within the competitors (W1).
They’ve received simply 10% of their LaLiga video games towards Simeone’s facet (W1 D3 L6), their third-lowest win charge towards an opponent they’ve confronted at the least 5 occasions within the competitors, after Actual Betis (9% – P11 W1 D4 L6) and Actual Sociedad (9% – P11 W1 D6 L4).
And Girona boss Michel Sanchez has misplaced seven of his 9 LaLiga conferences with Simeone (G9 W1 D1) – his highest variety of defeats towards a single coach within the competitors.
Nevertheless, Atleti have misplaced their final two away video games in LaLiga and haven’t misplaced three or extra consecutively since January 2024 (L4); the fourth defeat in that run was towards Girona (4-3 in January 2024).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Girona – 22.8%
Draw – 23.4%
Atletico Madrid – 53.8%
