The Atlético Madrid players are the highest goal scorers coming off the bench (10) in the Spanish competition.
The role of the modern ‘number 9’ can often be thankless, akin to that of goalkeepers. It’s true that when strikers score, they receive all the adulation, but when they miss, the burden of guilt falls squarely on their shoulders. The saying “does everything well except score” is a notion that doesn’t hold water over time, and the rhetoric surrounding the ‘false 9’ is a fix that coaches like De la Fuente disdain. Center forwards are scarce, but when you have one, they can be a lifeline. This double standard, between scoring and creating, follows Sorloth — the architect of the victory against Getafe. After all, the Norwegian found the net 23 times last season, second only to Dovbyk (24), which means he must always be a threat when he steps onto the pitch for Atlético.
Forty percent of the bench goals come from Sorloth.
The two scenarios we will describe are separated by just a week. In the first, Sorloth squanders four clear goal-scoring opportunities against Sevilla, whom Simeone’s side comes back to beat 3-1. In the second, the Norwegian celebrates the winning goal against Getafe after a header that showcases his lethal ability. In both victories, and in many others, Sorloth has been decisive without needing to be a starter. In the dramatic turnaround against the Andalusian side, the forward doesn’t appear in the scoring action but attracts four opponents to create space for his teammates.
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“That’s what we need from him. He’s helping us the way he is, getting involved. We mentioned in other matches that he had situations. When a player gets those chances, the goals come. It was a brilliant goal, probably the most difficult of his recent opportunities. The cross was extraordinary, and the header was perfect. He unlocked a match that, as is often the case with Getafe, isn’t easy,” said Simeone, whose substitutions continue to pay off. This season, in addition to being specialists in tight finishes, Atlético has also excelled at scoring from the bench.
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No other team in LaLiga benefits from such significant contributions in goals from players who start on the bench. Atlético has scored a total of ten goals from substitutes, four of which bear Sorloth’s name. The first cemented the victory against UD Las Palmas; the second secured the win against Alavés; the third capped the rout at Valladolid (0-5), and the fourth temporarily placed the Madrid side joint leaders in the competition. Given the pressure on strikers to produce numbers, these facts don’t lie: he has generated nine goals, with seven scored (only Griezmann has as many in LaLiga) and two assists.
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The fifth highest in clear chances generated.
What numbers did he have at this point last season with Villarreal? The same: eight goals and one assist for a total of nine goals created. Julián Álvarez, with twelve goals, has taken his starting spot. Their compatibility allows for a potential trio with Griezmann, but it is much healthier for Atlético that their well-balanced squad, for the first time in many years, is finding its rhythm. In total, the striker has provided eleven direct points to his team.
Only Lewandowski surpasses his 24 goals in the year 2024 in Spain’s tournament, where he reigns supreme. Sorloth is the epitome of Simeone’s “one game at a time” philosophy, which he is unlikely to abandon, as he remarked after beating Getafe, “There are too many here for me to change now. You all know I’m boring.” In his comments about Sorloth, Cholo acknowledged the attempts, whether successful or not, made by the Norwegian, who boasts the highest xG (expected goals) index among Atlético players (7.65) and is fifth in LaLiga overall.
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Incidentally, against Getafe, the expected goals were just 0.04, emphasizing the extreme difficulty of the chance he converted. He is one of the most dangerous footballers: the one who stole and assisted at San Mamés, distributed to equalize at Vallecas, or netted a brace against Leganés. The reason Atlético is contending at the top of the national league is due to a player who faces criticism when he misses but deserves a mention when he provides the perfect solution for tough matches like the derby against Getafe (1-0).
Trusting in a ‘Viking’ is unprecedented for Atlético.
With Sunday’s win, Atlético has now won 11 matches across all competitions. To maintain momentum, it will be vital that the red-and-white bench continues to be both a solution and a mere alternative. This is why Simeone, as he revealed after the match, spoke with all the players when naming a lineup that mirrored the one against Slovan Bratislava.
“We have repeated the formation several times, and there are players who are competing extraordinarily well, demonstrating what they can do when it’s their time to come in. That Llorente and Giuliano come out for Nahuel and Correa. That Sörloth comes on for Lino, and that Koke gets in. That is our strength,” claimed the Atlético manager, emphasizing the range of resources available this season.
“To compete in the way we want, we have to do it this way. César -Azpilicueta- participates less; Conor -Gallagher- didn’t play but has been doing a fantastic job. That is our strongest point,” defended the Argentine. Like the rest of the Atlético fanbase, he is doing something unprecedented in his emotional journey: trusting in a Viking, the nickname given to his foes from Real Madrid, who are now in the rearview mirror of the league after their stumble against Rayo.
