Atletico Madrid began the season impressively with an away victory at Sevilla last weekend, before drawing one-all with Barcelona in the Super Cup first leg. Last night, they turned Rayo Vallecano over at the Vicente Calderon with an easy 5-0 win rounding-off an encouraging opening week for the capital club.
There were fears regarding the fall-out from the loss of superstar striker Radamel Falcao to Monaco this summer, but Atleti's form has allayed those worries thus far. Diego Costa stepped up to the mark in front of goal with a double in Seville and another strike yesterday evening, while Turan and Raul Garcia also look the part.
Bargain signing David Villa has been highly influential after moving from Barcelona and managed to score against his former club during the midweek Super Copa fixture with a fabulous volley. Although he hasn't scored in the two league matches played up to now, he's been heavily involved in much of Atletico's best football and helped his new team to a 100% start to the La Liga campaign.
Falcao is undoubtedly one of the finest strikers on the planet, but the Spanish international all-time top scorer is proving an able replacement. Villa suffered a broken leg during his time at Camp Nou that cost him several months of his career and certainly seems to have stolen a yard of pace from the 31-year-old; despite all of that, his supreme positional play and eye for goal still make him a dangerous forward for opposition defences to contend with.
Head coach Diego Simeone has several attacking talents to call upon, including ex-Rayo man Leo Baptistao currently sitting on the bench. If he can keep major players fit this season, Atletico could be in with a strong shout of a top-three finish. Also, they have the Copa del Rey to defend, which Simeone will be massively keen to retain.
Last evening's comfortable trouncing of Rayo provided stark evidence of the ability within the Atletico squad and should cause concern even amongst the ranks of their most illustrious opponents Barcelona and local rivals Real Madrid. Simeone possesses a motivated side with the added guile of David Villa in a well-balanced forward line, which gives the team a chance of winning any match they take part in.
It would send the loudest message yet to other La Liga clubs around them should Atletico wrest the Super Copa away from Barcelona this week. And, in their spectacular current form, who'd bet against them?
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