Takeaways from Atlético Madrid’s penalty shoot-out win over Numancia

Atlético Madrid retained the Trofeo Memorial Jesús Gil y Gil in unusual circumstances as they drew 1-1 in 90 minutes with Segunda RFEF side Numancia, going on to win in a penalty shoot-out which ended 5-3.

Rodrigo Riquelme had given the Colchoneros the lead with an impressive finish from distance just before the half-hour mark, but three minutes later Numancia were level in controversial circumstances as César Azpilicueta was taken out by an elbow which left him bleeding, though play continued and Alain Ribeiro put the ball past Horațiu Moldovan, making his first appearance for the club.

In the second period, there were substantial changes and Atleti fielded a side which featured none of their first-team squad from last season. As such, the team struggled at times, with Numancia not afraid to take the game to a younger Atleti.

In the shoot-out, the heroes were goalkeeper Antonio Gomis, who famously came on to play as a forward here only a few years ago, and 16-year-old midfielder Taufik Seidu, who scored the decisive penalty.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the game.

The forward situation is drastic

Atlético Madrid came into this game with only one fit senior centre-forward in the shape of Ángel Correa. Following the departures of Memphis Depay and Álvaro Morata, Atleti are only waiting for the return of Antoine Griezmann in this position. An addition here is an urgent requirement, whatever may be happening with Artem Dovbyk or a plan B.

The result was that Rodrigo Riquelme operated alongside Correa, slightly behind him in a similar role to one which we have seen from Antoine Griezmann in the past. His versatility continues to be his forte.

It’s also true that this problem extends beyond just the front line. The use of teenagers, way below the level of the first team, such as Taufik Seidu, is a damning indication of the status of this Atlético squad. Even in pre-season, Diego Simeone is operating with one hand tied behind his back because the club is not moving fast enough to bring in options to bolster the squad.

Keep an eye on Ilias Kostis

As has been the case throughout the pre-season campaign, Diego Simeone opted to give preference to 21-year-old Greek defender Ilias Kostas over Reinildo, or even over Santiago Mouriño, on the left of a back three.

Kostis made his first team debut as an injury-time substitute against Feyenoord in the Champions League last season, but was a regular for the B team and stood out. Now, he is clearly making a case to step up, and with his good control of the ball, offering distribution options and strength in the backline, it’s clear to see why.

Of course, Robin Le Normand’s signing has now been confirmed and he will soon arrive and likely displace Kostis, and there could be further defensive additions, but he will still likely have a role to play. With Reinildo dropping further down the pecking order, Kostis could be the man in reserve.

Arthur Vermeeren is showing all the right signs

It would be fair to say that Arthur Vermeeren might have expected more from his first six months as an Atlético Madrid player, barely featuring until the final few games of the season, but this pre-season is showing all the right signs.

The teenager returned to action ahead of schedule after his involvement in Euro 2024 and appears to be a fixture in Diego Simeone’s experiments, operating in the number six role in midfield, and showing great composure and maturity in possession.

Such improvement could be critical for Atlético Madrid. Simeone’s desire to add options in midfield is no secret, but with Thomas Lemar returning (more on that shortly), and Vermeeren stepping up, it eases some of the pressure given that the club are failing to address other critical weaknesses in the squad. If the Belgian can become a regular option, it would make this season a very important one for his career path.

Thomas Lemar could be like a new signing

Operating behind the attacking duo of Ángel Correa and Rodrigo Riquelme, Thomas Lemar was making his first appearance since September 2023, when he suffered a serious Achilles’ injury which saw him sidelined until the end of the season when he could only return to the bench as an unused substitute.

The Frenchman looked lively throughout, and created two separate chances for Atlético that could have been converted on another day. He looked like a good match for the puzzle that is the Atlético Madrid midfield, which has increasingly operated with two attacking midfielders behind a front line.

Few missed Lemar and his disappointing performances last season, but this system is seen by many at the club to be a smart way of getting the best out of the 28 year old. Lemar has shown good signs and looks to be in good shape. It could be a win-win situation.

The roles of Carlos Martín and Javi Galán

Arguably the highlight of the whole game was seeing boyhood Atleti fan Carlos Martín don the captain’s armband as he lifted the Trofeo Memorial Jesús Gil y Gil. It might be a fairly pointless trophy, but it gave the 22 year old the chance to lead his club and have a day he will surely never forget.

On the field, Martín could be forgiven for feeling a little disappointed. Despite an impressive loan spell at Mirandés, it looks more and more like he won’t have a regular role this season. Despite him playing as a forward, Simeone continually experiments with him as a wing-back, which is not exploiting his strengths. Here, while he did the job well, it was evident that he lacked the defensive experience required for the role.

The other intriguing role was that of Javi Galán. It seems inevitable that he will move on before the season starts, with reports that he has been offered to former loan club Real Sociedad as well as Getafe and others. Here, he featured in the second half, but unusually operated as a midfielder. A possible route back in, or the only gap in the team with Simeone willing to give him minutes to build fitness? Everything points towards the latter.