Atletico Madrid rely on midfield goals against Stuttgart

Atlético Madrid are counting on goals from their midfielders against Stuttgart.

Atlético Madrid will rely on the scoring effectiveness of their midfield players, led by Alex Peina, when they visit VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday evening in the UEFA Champions League, in a match that will evoke historical memories for the team at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Midfielders have scored half of Atlético Madrid's goals in all competitions this season, with the team netting 22 goals and midfielders contributing 11 of those. This reflects the increasing attacking role of this group under the management of Diego Simeone.

Alex Baena leads the midfielders' scoring chart with five goals, followed by Lee Kang-in and Giuliano Simeone with two goals each. Meanwhile, Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios have each scored one goal. In La Liga, Atlético's midfielders have scored seven goals, which is the same number that Barcelona's midfielders have recorded.

Diego Simeone emphasizes the importance of midfielders reaching the penalty area, drawing from his experience as a player in that position. He has repeatedly urged them to contribute to scoring and focused during the pre-season on increasing their goal tally, especially given the difficulties the team faced in the attacking line.

This strategy comes at a time when Atletico's strikers are suffering from a lack of goals, having scored only five goals, which accounts for 23% of the team's total goals. Jonathan David has netted three goals, while Ademola Lookman has contributed two. Meanwhile, Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sørloth, and Arnaut have yet to open their accounts.

In contrast, defenders have scored six goals, accounting for 27% of the total goal tally, which highlights the team's reliance on various lines to compensate for the decline in attackers' productivity, and increases the importance of the role played by midfielders at the start of the season.

Historical figures show that midfielders scored 39% of Atlético Madrid's goals during the 2018-2019 season, the highest percentage in the Simeone era before the current season. They also played a crucial role in the team's triumph in the La Liga title during the 2013-2014 season, when they netted 42 goals out of 116 in all competitions, and then scored 26 goals out of 77 during the title-winning season in 2020-2021.

The Stuttgart match holds special significance for Atlético, as the club previously won its first European title at the same stadium on September 5, 1962, after defeating Fiorentina by three goals to nil in the European Cup Winners' Cup final.

Diego Simeone said before the match: "It is always nice to return to places that have witnessed important events," referring to the strength of the German opponent and their ability to impose a high tempo, especially during attacking transitions.

The Argentine coach hopes that the midfielders will continue their scoring form as the forwards regain their effectiveness in front of goal, so that Atlético can compete strongly for titles during the current season.