Vietto and Torres misfiring: 24 shots on goal with no returns
The Argentino had 14 attempts on goal in last night's Copa del Rey tie against Elche while El Niño tested the keeper 10 times without success.
Atlético's effectiveness in front of goal is starting to beocme a real cause for concern. In last night's Copa del Rey meeting with Elche, the team had 14 attempts on goal but only one entered - Thomas' back post header which gave the Rojiblancos the lead on 17 minutes. Eight of those attempts were from front two Luciano Vietto and Fernando Torres, who had four clear chances each - two of them one-on-ones with the keeper; Vietto was denied by the post while a powerful header from Torres was superbly clawed behind by Elche keeper Guillermo Vallejo.
How Atlético are falling short in attack
Simeone's side have scored 16 goals in 13 outings so far this season, averaging 1.23 per game - and five of them were scored in the Week 2 league meeting with Las Palmas. In the five most recent matches, Atleti have found the net just three times - one from Saúl, one from Gameiro and Thomas' header last night. El Cholo still has another two months until Diego Costa is eligible to play and Atlético's five strikers have just seven goals between them: Griezmann (3), Correa (3), Gameiro (1) while Vietto and Torres have yet to get off the mark. In every case apart from Gameiro, wo scored from his only attempt on goal, the strike rate has been poor.
Griezmann's three goals in LaLiga and the Champions League came from 23 shots (13% efficiency) and all of them have been at the Wanda Metropolitano - a penalty against Chelsea in the Champions League and one against Málaga and Sevilla.
Ángel Correa started the season well, finding the target in the team's opening two games against Girona and Las Palmas. He brought his tally to three in the Week 5 game against Athletic Club but since then hasn't scored. His strike rate is 18.75% in the 12 games he's played a part in.
Gameiro has the best figures of all of Atleti's frontmen - he scored his only goal of the season with the only shot he's had on goal, against Celta at Balaídos which gives him a 100% success rate on paper. He has been the least-used striker, totting up 160 minutes of playing time over four games.
Vietto and Torres are still to chalk their first goals of the campaign. The Argentinean has clocked 14 shots on goal but with no joy. Torres has had 10 attempts on goal without success. Vietto has played 404 minutes over seven games while Torres has 311 minutes on-field in nine games.
