Antoine Griezmann’s Magic Seals Atletico Madrid’s Victory Against RB Leipzig
Amadou Haidara and Willi Orban made a smart move deep in the 90th minute, with the score level between Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig. After quickly clearing an Atletico set piece, both Leipzig players rushed to close down Antoine Griezmann as he dribbled out of the box. Fully aware of the danger posed by Antoine Griezmann’s deadly left foot, Haidara and Orban aimed to shut down his attacking angle. However, Griezmann, with a quick drop of his shoulder, made a sudden turn and delivered a perfect cross to Jose Gimenez at the far post – using his right foot.
On what many consider his weaker foot, Antoine Griezmann showed incredible power, precision, and finesse, making it look effortless. The score shifted from 1-1 to 2-1, turning Leipzig’s potential point into nothing.
The worst part for Leipzig? It wasn’t entirely their fault. As Haidara and Orban discovered, when Antoine Griezmann is in top form, there’s little that can be done to stop him.
Griezmann controlled the game from his free-roaming midfield position that Thursday night. He was everywhere—making tackles, closing passing lanes, driving the ball forward, delivering crosses, and even getting on the end of them. His most impressive moment came when he equalized with a stunning volley, once again with his right foot, perfectly timed to lift it over the diving Peter Gulacsi and under the crossbar. Griezmann’s performance was filled with headers that forced remarkable saves, near-assists, driving runs, and cutting passes. Watching him in real-time, it felt inevitable that Atletico Madrid would score a winner, and Griezmann would be the catalyst.
After the match, Atletico coach Diego Simeone praised Griezmann, saying, “When he plays well, different things happen.” That’s the type of praise reserved for generational talents like Antoine Griezmann. At 33, Griezmann has long been overshadowed by the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but it’s surprising that more fans don’t place him in that next elite category. His failed move to Barcelona may have played a role, but Griezmann is the quintessential footballer’s footballer—strong with both feet (as Leipzig learned), good in the air, and adaptable to any position on the field. His versatility and defensive discipline mean he may not always be the flashiest player, but when he’s at his best, he’s among the most effective.
As Griezmann himself put it post-match, “When I’m happy, it shows in training and on the pitch.” Based on his performance Thursday night, Antoine Griezmann is clearly a happy man right now. For reminding the world of his incredible talent, Antoine Griezmann earns our first UCL Moment of the Week for this season.