#5 Injury woes
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Most teams around the world that boast a solid defence usually rely on an unchanged back four and goalkeeper – the case being no different for Atletico, arguably possessing the most reliable defence in Europe. Losing goalkeeper to Jan Oblak to a dislocated shoulder in December, therefore, was a huge blow.
The recent groin injury to Diego Godin cost the defence yet another reliable stalwart. Working under a restrained budget as Atletico's, a level of fortune with player availability becomes fundamentally important – unlike the likes of Real and Barca, Atletico does not have the luxury of being able to replace world class players with similar replacements off the bench at will.
It is in this respect that Atletico has perhaps run out of luck this term – untimely and often unlucky injuries to key players.
Perhaps Atletico might not catch up with the others – but if there is one team you can back on to keep fighting till the very end, it is Simeone's men. With all the odds stacked against them, league success seems unlikely, but perhaps Atletico can enjoy the long awaited taste of European success.
