Atlético Madrid's Winning Streak: Five and Counting

Five wins in a row, second in La Liga and a European giant humbled at the Metropolitano — Atlético Madrid have turned a stuttering start into the most ominous run in Spanish football, and Diego Simeone's side look like they are only just getting started.

A month ago, the questions around Atlético were the familiar ones. A 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on the opening night of the Champions League league phase had the critics circling: too cautious, too blunt, too yesterday. The response since has been emphatic — five consecutive victories in all competitions, four of them in La Liga, capped on Tuesday by a controlled dismissal of Manchester United that carried a message for the rest of Europe as well.

A Streak Forged in the Derby

The run began with a 3-0 win at Real Sociedad and a 4-0 dismantling of Osasuna, but it was the Madrid derby on 20 September that changed the temperature of Atlético's season. After a goalless, physical first half, Dean Huijsen was sent off for bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the area. Alejandro Grimaldo converted the penalty, Jonathan David volleyed home a second six minutes later, and although Antonio Rüdiger's late header set up a tense finish, Atlético held on to climb above their neighbours.

After the international break, Simeone's men won 2-1 at Alavés — Grimaldo on target again, alongside Cristian Romero — and then United arrived at the Metropolitano. What followed was the Simeone template executed at sprint speed. Pablo Barrios side-footed home after just 47 seconds, Grimaldo rattled the crossbar from a free-kick, Julián Álvarez struck a post, and a Johnny Cardoso goal was chalked off by VAR before Leny Yoro's red card on 74 minutes tilted the closing stages decisively. Five minutes later, Ademola Lookman converted the rebound after Senne Lammens had saved from David to seal the 2-0 win over Manchester United. The Sky Sports match stats underlined the control: 58 per cent possession and the game's clearest chances, against a United side now winless in five. The fallout in the away dressing room was explosive, with Lisandro Martínez questioning how United are being run — a measure of how thoroughly Atlético had dismantled them.

The Men Making It Happen

Every streak has faces, and this one's are telling. Lookman, signed to give Atlético a different kind of threat, is proving lethal against tiring defences — his goal on Tuesday came after he was introduced from the bench, all fresh legs and direct running. Barrios has become the engine of the side at just 23, and his opener against United carried extra weight: with captain Koke absent following the death of his mother, Barrios dedicated the victory to his skipper and his family.

David, meanwhile, has been the derby hero and more — his volley against Real was reported as his third goal in as many La Liga appearances — while Grimaldo, a left-back, has scored in consecutive fixtures during this run. Álvarez, restored to the starting line-up at the Metropolitano for the first time this season against United, stretches defences even on nights when the post denies him, Álex Baena's creativity unlocked the game's first goal, and behind them all Jan Oblak produced the saves that kept the derby safe when Real pressed late. This is not a one-man surge; it is a squad landing blows from everywhere.

Simeone's Hand — and His Warning

Speaking after the United game, in comments reported by VAVEL, Simeone praised the flying start his side made, calling the build-up to the first goal "brilliant", and pointed out that his team are scoring more goals than they were at this stage last season. Five straight wins will do that for a coach's mood.

But anyone expecting Simeone to declare the job done does not know him. "We need to improve our defensive balance further," he warned, even in victory. It is a revealing line. This streak has been built on faster starts and a heavier scoring load than the old stereotype allows — yet Atlético have kept just one clean sheet across the five games, and their coach can see the risk even while the results roll in.

So What?

Start with the table. Atlético sit second in La Liga with 19 points from eight matches, five behind Barcelona and — crucially — one ahead of Real Madrid, with the derby having flipped the order of the city. A side written off in September is now in a genuine three-way title conversation.

Next comes Saturday's test: a trip to Espanyol in La Liga's matchday nine. Espanyol sit 12th, but they are unbeaten in their last three home meetings with Atlético — precisely the kind of awkward, low-scoring fixture in which autumn streaks go to die. Win a sixth straight, and the pressure on Barcelona becomes real. Slip, and the derby and United wins shrink into a good month rather than a launchpad.

Europe matters too. Atlético have only three points from two league-phase games after the Anfield defeat, and a trip to Stuttgart is next; the momentum has to travel. The encouraging part for Simeone is that it is being carried by squad depth — goals from a substitute in Lookman, a full-back in Grimaldo and a midfielder in Barrios — rather than one star's hot streak.

Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: this is no longer the Atlético that wins ugly and apologises for it. Simeone's side are scoring early, scoring late and scoring from every position, and Tuesday's dismantling of United showed the ceiling is higher than the old caricature. The streak will break somewhere — all streaks do — but right now it is Barcelona, not Atlético, who should be glancing over their shoulder.

Atlético fans — is this team now Barcelona's real title rival, or does the run end at Espanyol on Saturday? Have your say in the comments.