Why All-Rounder Diego Godin Is Still so Crucial at Both Ends for Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid’s second pre-season game could hardly have been more different to the first.

From the comfortable 2-0 stroll against Numancia in front of just 1,500 fans at Burgo de Osma, Spain, last Saturday came a 1-0 victory over a determined and somewhat unlucky Tottenham Hotspur at the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of Australia’s premier sporting venues and a place more used to seeing runs scored and wickets taken rather than a scruffy goal from a set piece.

No, they aren’t known for their love of cricket in the Spanish capital, but if Atletico Madrid fans did know a bit more about Australia’s premier sport—and indeed a very popular one in England, where Tottenham now return having lost both of their matches Down Under—then they might describe their match-winner as an “all-rounder.”

Diego Godin—the scorer of plenty of goals in Atletico’s past, most of which were much more important than this one—was on hand to turn the ball home after Spurs youngster Anton Walkes could only flick a Gabi free-kick into his path, with the muted celebrations that followed a reminder that the real stuff doesn’t start for Atletico until August 21, when Alaves visit the Calderon.

That said, a win over a team of Tottenham’s quality at any time is to be welcomed, as indeed is a Godin goal.

The cricketing term “all-rounder” refers to a players capable of excelling at the two premier disciplines in the sport—batting and bowling.

An all-rounder can win you matches thanks to …

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