Simeone's immunity to the FIFA Virus: 16 wins in 21 games
With the Madrid derby looming at the weeked, the Atlético coach will be unfazed due to his 76% win-rate after international breaks.
The Madrid derby
Atlético Madrid will get straight back into the thick of it after the international break as they welcome city rivals Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderón (Saturday, 20:45 CET). Los Blancos currently lead the pack, six points ahead of Atlético, and a win for Zidane's men would open up a significant gap between the two sides. However, Los Rojiblancos will be buoyed by one stat: Cholo Simeone's record after international breaks: 16 wins in 21 games, with three draws and only two defeats.
No FIFA hangover for Simeone's men
This season is a perfect example of Atlético's record under these circumstances: after the last two international breaks Simeone's side has recorded its biggest wins, over Celta (0-4) and Granada (7-1). This statistic is all the more impressive given the number of players in El Cholo's squad to leave for international duty: in September 17 players were involved with their national sides, in October the number was 15 and now, in November, 14 players have travelled to represent their countries.
Big numbers
In general, Simeone's figures in the Atlético dugout are impressive: the Argentine coach has overseen 276 official games, winning 174 of them with a win-rate of 63%. However, his 16 victories in 21 games after international breakd make him immune to the so-called FIFA Virus, with a win-rate of 76%. In defence, the comparison is similar, with Los Rojiblancos shipping an average of 0.7 goals both during Simeone's tenure and after internationals. In attack, however, the numbers are slightly better, with a general average of 1.72 goals per game and 2.57 after mid-season qualifiers.