Atlético Madrid is not doing well. Diego Pablo Simeone's team is 12 points behind Real Madrid and 13 behind Barcelona in La Liga EA Sports, where they have lost their chance to fight for the title. Once again, they will have to settle for qualifying for the Champions League by finishing in the top four.

It was precisely in Europe's top competition that alarm bells started ringing when they had everything in their favour to finish in the top eight and qualify directly for the round of 16. But the defeat at the Metropolitano against Bodo/Glimt set off all the alarms.

All eyes on Julián

If there is one decisive player at Atlético de Madrid, it is Julián Álvarez. The “spider” is facing a season finale where the most feasible title is the Copa del Rey. But in the semi-finals, they have been drawn against Barcelona, the most in-form team in Spain. His team needs him now more than ever.

If Julián Álvarez improves, so will Atlético Madrid's results. In total, he has gone 11 official matches without scoring, including La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa and Champions League games. These are uncharacteristic numbers for one of the best footballers in the world and the key player in Diego Pablo Simeone's team. The numbers in Julián Álvarez's drought speak for themselves.

Julián Álvarez's games without scoring

• Atlético Madrid 2-1 Valencia
• Girona 0-3 Atlético Madrid
• Real Sociedad 1-1 Atlético Madrid
• Atlético Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid
• Deportivo La Coruña 0-1 Atlético Madrid
• Atlético Madrid 1-0 Alavés
• Galatasaray 1-1 Atlético Madrid
• Atlético Madrid 3-0 Mallorca
• Atlético Madrid 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
• Levante 0-0 Atlético Madrid
• Atlético Madrid 0-1 Betis