Costa is still a nuisance to play against—as well as the goals and the infectious pressing, the 29-year-old has been sent off and collected a couple of yellow cards along the way. Simeone is in his element with Costa at his disposal again. “He transmits fear,” Simeone purred about him after Costa’s first, goalscoring game back in his side in January, per Mundo Deportivo.
“I think a couple of months have been enough to remind us that there is nobody more unsettling for opposition teams than Costa in this Atletico team,” said Fran Guillen, author of Diego Costa: The Art of War. “He generates chances for himself and for his teammates. He’s ideal for Simeone’s style of play.”
Costa is also an ideal foil for Griezmann. It’s no coincidence that he’s been on fire since Costa’s return, clocking nine goals and five assists in his last nine games for Atletico. “Griezmann is benefiting from a huge sporting yield with the arrival of Costa, which allows him to play in his natural position and takes away some vigilance from rival defenders,” Guillen said.
With a classic No. 9 to play alongside, the Frenchman is free to roam further from goal where he is more dangerous. Griezmann’s first goal on Sunday night against Sevilla is a case in point. Gathering the ball from a half-clearance among a thicket of defenders, he took a couple of touches and rifled a shot off-balance into the top corner. It was a thing of beauty.
