On the eve of their opening Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven, Diego Simeone reiterated the necessity of taking risks with substitutions in order to force a result in their favour. However, much of the data seems to suggest that Simeone's tactics revolve around an untouchable starting XI. Throughout the season so far, goalkeeper Jan Oblak and left-back Filipe Luis have proven to be mainstays and have featured all 15 matches of the season so far. In doing so, the pair have accumulated a total of 1,350 minutes. Meanwhile, six other players have accumulated over 1,000 minutes of play this season including Diego Godin (1,260), Koke (1,224) , Antoine Griezmann (1,175), Juanfran (1,170), Gabi (1,157) and Stefan Savic (1,140).
However, it's fair to say that Godin, Griezmann and Koke would have played the full complement of minutes had they not been ruled out with injury and suspensions. Yannick Carrasco comes in next with 966 minutes whilst Saul Niguez has accumulated a total of 855 minutes despite not featuring at all in league fixtures against Deportivo La Coruna, Granada and Sevilla. Rounding off the starting XI is Kevin Gameiro who has participated in all 15 matches and racked up a total of 824 minutes. The gulf between Simeone's main men and the substitutes could not be any greater, however. Fernando Torres has played a total of 537 minutes in nine league and four European matches, that is almost 300 minutes less than Gameiro. Angel Correa, Nicolas Gaitan, Tiago and Jose Maria Gimenez have 497, 388, 157 and 126 minutes respectively.A second consecutive away defeat in LaLiga means that Diego Simeone's side have now recorded their lowest points total at this stage of the season since the Argentine took charge of the club in 2011.
However, it's February 2014 which marks the last time Atleti lost two consecutive away fixtures in the league, who fell short against Almeria and Osasuna, either side of a 3-0 victory against Real Valladolid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon. That season, Los Rojiblancos went on to lift the league title by three points although in just 11 games they've dropped exactly half the points squandered in the entirety of that LaLiga campaign. "We must accept that Atletico are not doing well at the moment," said experienced defender Juanfran. "Our demands on ourselves are very high. We must analyse things and work hard." LaLiga players will now link up with their national sides as the international break commences, and Atletico will face a tough task to rekindle their league form on return, as they host city rivals Real Madrid at home in two weeks.
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