Atlético reach the halfway point of the 2025/26 season on 38 points, six fewer than last year and already double digits behind Barcelona. In this episode, Emmanuel (@LaLigaLavo) and Kelvyn (@kelvynbrown19) cut through the table optics to assess what this Atleti side really is: a team evolving tactically, or one regressing despite heavy investment.

We break down the league and UCL numbers, Simeone’s shift toward a higher press and greater possession, why execution hasn’t matched ambition, and how Julián Álvarez’s role encapsulates the problem.

We also assess January departures, unmet squad needs, and what must change in the second half of the season if Atleti are to avoid a top-four dogfight.

A clear-eyed midseason audit of Simeone’s most expensive squad yet.