Atletico Madrid Leaning On Antoine Griezmann In Key Feyenoord Visit

Atletico Madrid are depending on the red-hot Antoine Griezmann to book them a place in the Champions League knock-out rounds on Tuesday at Feyenoord. After finishing bottom of their group last season Atletico are desperate to progress and know they face a fierce battle at De Kuip in the Netherlands, with the hosts fighting to avoid elimination. Atletico lead Group E on eight points, one ahead of Lazio and two up on third-placed Feyenoord, and a win would send them through.

Griezmann, who scored a fine header against Mallorca to take Atletico third in La Liga on Saturday, is in superlative form.

The French forward has nine goals in the Spanish top flight, only trailing the division's top goalscorer, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, and has netted four in four Champions League matches thus far.

He has eight goals and two assists in his last seven games for the club, across all competitions.

Griezmann played the full 90 minutes against Mallorca with coach Diego Simeone unable to rest the forward as his team had to fight until the end to take the three points.

"It's difficult to think about taking him off," said Simeone.

"He's so important to us, it's a shame that he always, or almost always, plays 90 minutes."

The Argentine coach has made Griezmann a central figure in the Atletico team, sometimes literally, deploying the 32-year-old in midfield on occasion.

Griezmann scored twice against Celtic while playing there in Atletico's 6-0 win earlier in November at the Metropolitano.

It allows Griezmann to put his imprint on the game more, without losing sight of his goalscoring duties.

'Living history'

His goal against Mallorca was his 170th for the club, trailing all-time top Atletico goalscorer Luis Aragones by only three.

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