Photo by David S.Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

A group of footballers playing as if they know big changes are coming. On Feb. 11, Atlético Madrid rocked up to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán to take on Sevilla in a Sunday night showdown. At the time, Sevilla were going through it (as I wrote on Football España back in January) and had not won at home since September. But Isaac Romero headed the ball past Jan Oblak in the 15th minute and Atlético never seriously threatened Sevilla?s goal, as the hosts ran out 1-0 winners to take a huge step toward safety.
Two weeks ago, Atlético visited Power Horse Stadium for a fixture against bottom side Almería, which entered the match having not won a game all season. Almería are on course for the lowest point total in LALIGA since the Spanish top flight began handing out three points for a win instead of two. Atlético took two leads but lost both rather quickly, as winger Luka Romero?s brace was enough for the hosts to secure a point with a 2-2 draw. On Saturday, a theoretically-rested Atlético took on Cádiz at the Nuevo Mirandilla, hoping to win away from home for the first time since Jan. 22. Diego Simeone made only one change from the team that defeated Real Betis last Sunday, as Saúl Ñíguez replaced an under-the-weather Pablo Barrios. Earlier in the week, chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín visited the players to stress the importance of finishing in the top four ? the club?s main goal ever...