Atletico seek redemption through Club World Cup

The Club World Cup will bring the curtain down on the 2024/25 season. It presents a new title opportunity for Atletico Madrid, who will be aiming to become the first winners of the revamped format and mask past slip-ups.

The Rojiblancos started the campaign strongly, staking their claim in every competition. They were even crowned winter champions after winning in Montjuic against Barcelona, and rose from their ashes in the Champions League with a stunning win away to eventual winners PSG.

Their run to the quarter-finals secured a place in the last 16. However, a disastrous March saw them crash out of all three competitions, and their competitive edge vanished in the final stretch of La Liga.

Atletico approach this Club World Cup with both excitement and ambition. It is a short tournament – a setting in which Simeone's sides usually thrive. There is no room for doubt and excuses under the Argentinian, who demands total commitment regardless of whether reinforcements arrive.

The aim will be to give a good account and go as far as possible.

Squad list

Players to watch

There is no doubt that Atletico’s standout player this season has been Julian Alvarez. The Argentinian striker, signed as a marquee addition, has delivered impressively.

He finished as the club's top scorer with 29 goals, setting a new record for a debutant in the Simeone era. His quick and efficient adaptation made him a guaranteed starter and a lifeline for his team.

Alexander Sorloth also deserves mention. The Norwegian forward, often used as a substitute, grew into the season and ended as the team's top scorer in La Liga with 20 goals. He became the best impact player across the top European leagues, netting 12 goals off the bench.

Then there is Jan Oblak. The Slovenian goalkeeper rediscovered his form, making Atletico stronger at the back. He kept 15 clean sheets – the third-best tally in Europe – and won his sixth Zamora Trophy, more than anyone else, conceding just 30 goals in 36 league matches (0.83 per game).

Coach

Diego Simeone completed his 14th season in charge of Atletico Madrid. It was a challenging campaign to manage, and the Argentinian coach once again showed both sides of his management.

The negative: missed chances to kill games. The positive: bringing the best out of players like Giuliano and Sorloth.

His team remains built from the back – combative, hard-working and intense, but not purely defensive. He believes solid defending is the foundation of success. The numbers support it: 109 goals scored this season, the second-best under Simeone after 2013/14 (116).

Group stage fixtures

Matchday 1

Atletico Madrid kick off their Club World Cup campaign against PSG on Sunday, 15 June, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles. The Rojiblancos take on the current Champions League holders, with fresh memories of their 2-1 away win in Paris.

The two sides have only met twice more, both in friendlies.

Matchday 2

Atletico will face Seattle Sounders on Friday, 20 June. at the CenturyLink Field. This will be the first ever meeting between the Spanish side and the MLS outfit.

Matchday 3

Atletico Madrid close out the group stage on Monday, 23 June, against Botafogo at the Rose Bowl. It will also be their first-ever encounter with the reigning Copa Libertadores champions.

Possible starting XI