Botafogo push Atletico into a corner

Atletico are at risk of being eliminated early from the Club World Cup.

Winning is not enough. Atletico Madrid must now win big. A three-goal victory over Botafogo in the final matchday - that is the only condition for Diego Simeone's team to decide their own fate in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

A seemingly unreasonable request for a team that beat Seattle 3-1. But the game has changed, and the Botafogo earthquake has thrown this group into unexpected chaos.

It seemed that PSG - the reigning Champions League champions - would move forward smoothly after a resounding victory over Atletico, but Botafogo unexpectedly brought sadness to the capital team of Paris with a single goal. That result not only stunned the fans, but also brought Atletico back to earth. The opportunity was already slim, now there was an additional strict condition: not only had to win, but had to win big against an excited and confident opponent.

Currently, Botafogo lead the group with 6 points - goal difference +2, PSG are second with 3 points, goal difference +3, and Atletico are behind with 3 points, goal difference -2. According to the format, when three teams are level on points, the result of their direct head-to-head matches will decide the rankings, and the match against Seattle - who are already eliminated - will be excluded from the calculation. That means Atlético need a win by three goals or more against Botafogo to turn the tables.

No one expected this ironic scenario. After the crushing defeat against PSG, Atletico bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Seattle. But the joy did not last long as the shock from the PSG - Botafogo match put Simeone and his students in a dilemma. If PSG continued to show their class and beat Seattle - which everyone considered a given - then Atletico's task would be almost a "mountain climb" without a safety rope.

Botafogo are no longer easy targets. They came into the Club World Cup as South American champions, but a lacklustre start saw many write them off. Then came the win over PSG, a heroic counter-attack that showed they were ready to be the season’s greatest spoilers.

Challenges await Atletico.

For Diego Simeone, the upcoming match is not only a do-or-die match, but also the ultimate test of the pragmatic football he pursues. Simeone's Atletico have never been a team that likes to attack aggressively. But at this moment, they are forced to play like a "hungry giant" - not just to win, but to devour their opponents.

The question is: do Atletico have enough? Their attack is not known for its explosiveness, and being stifled by PSG in the opening match revealed their creative limitations. The likes of Griezmann, Sorloth and Julian Alvarez will have to play at their best, and above all, Atletico need to be daring - something rarely seen in Simeone's tactical DNA.

Of course, there is still another “lifeline”: if PSG stumbles against Seattle, all calculations could be disrupted. But betting on a weak team like Seattle, while being helpless, is no different from leaving fate to chance. For a team with personality like Atletico, that is unacceptable.

So when the whistle blows against Botafogo, it will be more than just a football match. It will be a battle between belief and reality, between character and pressure, between a team with a rich European tradition and a representative from South America who is rewriting the script with their feet. And for Atlético, winning is not enough - they must win big, if they do not want to leave the game with regret.

Source: https://znews.vn/botafogo-day-atletico-vao-the-chan-tuong-post1562460.html