Should Griezmann take penalties?

Nothing that could go well, turned out well for Atlético de Madrid against Bruges. The mattress team had the opportunity to get into the game with a good number of occasions, but they went to waste by centimeters, by details.

The clearest perhaps was the penalty kicked by Antoine Griezmann in the second half. The shot went violently to the crossbar, in a penalty that reminded Atlético fans of the Champions League final in Milan against Real Madrid.

The French did not have his night. Beyond missing the penalty, the play continued and he scored a great goal moments later, something that would have redeemed him in a way. However, he did not get on the scoreboard because he was slightly offside. We already say, nothing that could go well, did.

When situations like the one experienced by Macon occur, with the missed penalty, many wonder if the shooter should be this or that. It is clear that the one who throws it is the one who throws it, that you have to have personality to do it and that failing is part of football and of any area in life. That ruling ended a streak of eight penalties in a row scoring at Atlético.

In this case, it is not about pointing fingers at anyone, but it is convenient to look at the data to put this question in context. According to Opta data, Griezmann has only scored ten of the 16 penalties he has taken in all competitions.

Atlético de Madrid, since he signed for the rojiblanco team. Four of seven failed in the Champions. That's a total conversion rate of 62%, just over half for a luck where it's usually higher.

If we go to the total of his career, between clubs and national team, 19 marked and 11 missed. That is to say, a conversion ratio of 63.3%, very unusual for a regular penalty taker.

THE COMPARISON

To put it in perspective, in the club field, Carrasco has scored 18 and has missed three (with Atlético, three scored and one missed). A success rate of 85.7% in his career. Álvaro Morata, between the national team and clubs, has scored 14 goals from the fateful point and has missed two (curiously, one of them, the only one he shot for Atlético). It has a conversion ratio of 87.5%.

More companions. Joao Félix has scored eight of the nine he shot in his career, at club level (at the highest level, that is). A conversion ratio of 90%. At Atlético, three marked and one missed, 75%.

Even Matheus Cunha, who is below these values, is also significantly above Griezmann's. The Brazilian has scored five and missed two, giving him a conversion rate of 71.4%.