3 stats from Atlético’s 2-1 away win over Real Betis

Atlético Madrid stretched their unbeaten run at the Estadio Benito Villamarín to four games by sealing a 2-1 win over Real Betis in Seville on Sunday afternoon thanks to a brace from Antoine Griezmann.

Here are three key stats from the match, which keeps Atleti in third place in LaLiga.

147: Antoine Griezmann becomes the third-highest scoring player in the club’s history

By scoring two more against Real Betis, Griezmann continued to write himself into Atlético de Madrid’s history books, this time by scoring his 147th club goal, putting him third in the all-time goalscoring list.

Griezmann overtook Paco Campos’ 146 goals, scored between 1940 and 1948. He is now 22 goals behind Adrián Escudero on 169 and 25 behind Luis Aragonés on 172, who retired in 1974.

(Note: Some sources, taking into account old regional competitions and other tournaments, say Campos ended his career with 158 goals. For whatever reason, the club has elected not to count the goals Campos scored in these competitions.)

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

What’s more is that Griezmann became one of Atleti’s top three scorers with a brace, his first since scoring a double against Real Valladolid all the way back in December 2018. That reflects the form he is in. The Frenchman’s impressive performances of late show a player stringing together a run that is striking fear into the heart of any opposition defence.

11: Saúl Ñíguez makes more recoveries than any other player — in any LaLiga game — this season

Operating as the left-wing-back, Saúl can be accused of lacking offensive threat, but what he did do was produce one of the best defensive performances we’ve seen in that position in quite some time.

In fact, with 11 possession recoveries, the academy graduate won the ball back more than any player, from any team, in any game, in the top flight this season.

In doing so, Saúl also matched his best-ever tally for number of duels won with 17. He also won 17 duels against Almería in February 2015, but this game was the first time in seven years he has been this successful in quite so many individual battles.

Saúl is still yet to get back to his best, but with games and performances like this one, he is showing he does have something to contribute and can be a real consideration in that position.

Photo By Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images

0: First half shots on target in consecutive away games for the first time since December 2020

With 0 shots and 0.08 xG between the first halves of Atlético’s last two away games, the Colchoneros have still found a way to take six points from tricky visits to Athletic Club at San Mamés and Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. Both are sides within the top six.

This pure Cholismo approach of smash and grab victories has clearly infuriated Manuel Pellegrini and many rival fans, but it’s a well-executes strategy that is reaping great rewards for Atlético Madrid.

What’s more, that stretch in December 2020 was part of Atlético’s league title-winning campaign. Performances like this one and the win over Athletic Club are giving hope to Atleti fans that there is still something to be salvaged this season.