Atletico Madrid's Simeone maintains composure amidst early losses in the new season
Atletico Madrid find themselves in an unfamiliar position as they prepare for their third LaLiga match of the 2025-26 season, having failed to secure a win so far. The transfer window closes on Monday, and Diego Simeone, the club's long-standing coach, is not ruling out any further activity to bolster the team.
Atletico Madrid's offensive efforts have been evident, with the team firing a record 37 crosses into the box on matchday two, their highest tally in LaLiga since November 2023. However, the defensive side has been a cause for concern, with the team conceding three goals thus far, their joint-most after two games of a season under Simeone.
The team has shown promise, with striker Sorloth scoring 13 goals in 19 LaLiga matches in 2025 for Atletico Madrid. Yet, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in either of their first two matches this season.
Simeone has been the coach of Atletico Madrid since the start of the 2025-26 season and has never before experienced the team going three consecutive LaLiga games without a win. He believes patience will be required due to the recent transfer activity, which has seen the club sign 10 players, including Alex Baena, Thiago Almada, and Giacomo Raspadori.
Meanwhile, Alaves, who have gone unbeaten in their last five home LaLiga matches, will pose a formidable challenge. Alaves coach Eduardo Coudet has not won any of his five LaLiga matches against Atletico Madrid, a streak he will be eager to break.
Jon Guridi, a player from Alaves, has scored two goals in his six outings against Atletico Madrid, making them the only opponent he has scored against in multiple top-flight matches. The Opta win probability for Atletico Madrid is 51.1%, while that for Alaves is 23.2%.
In the broader LaLiga landscape, Kylian Mbappe and Julian Alvarez are the only players who have scored more goals since the turn of the year. The Opta win probability for a draw is 25.7%.
As Atletico Madrid seek to turn their fortunes around, Simeone has emphasised the need for improvement, especially defensively. The upcoming match against Alaves promises to be a crucial test for the team, with Simeone remaining optimistic about potential further activity in the transfer window.
