Griezmann decline deepens with stoppage time cameo against Atletico Madrid

FC Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann must have been relishing Tuesday’s match with former club Atletico Madrid, but something different happened.

Even with his side drawing 2-2 and needing a winner to rescue their ailing La Liga title bid, he was not called upon until added time.

A third draw in six matches further doomed Barca’s bid to win a third successive title.

It means arch rivals Real Madrid can go four points clear at the top of the table with five games left if they beat Getafe on Thursday.

But after the match, the focus was on Griezmann’s fall from grace since his 120 million euro (134.48 million dollars) move from Atletico Madrid last year.

The focus on the move was even greater than the team’s title bid.

The 2018 World Cup-winning forward has not started in three of Barca’s six games since returning to action.

He missed the crucial trips to Sevilla and Celta Vigo which also ended in draws.

But perhaps worst of all for him was coach Quique Setien’s declaration that bringing on Griezmann earlier would not have helped his side.

“It’s true that bringing him on for such little time is tough for a player of his level but the circumstances obliged me to do that. The other option was not to bring him on at all.

“The players on the pitch were playing well and it wasn’t easy to find a place for him without destabilising the team.

“I don’t normally make late changes, but I thought a player like him could win the game with one play,” said Setien

Griezmann, who is Barca’s second most expensive player of all time, has only scored one league goal since Setien became manager in January.

He netted seven times under previous coach Ernesto Valverde.

“Tomorrow (Wednesday) I’ll speak with him.”

“I won’t apologise to him but I understand he might feel bad and I also feel bad for him because he’s a great player and a great person,” added Setien.

Griezmann’s scant influence at Barca contrasts with the talismanic influence he had at Atletico Madrid, where he was leading goalscorer in each of his five seasons under Diego Simeone.

The Atletico Madrid coach’s reaction to his former star man’s cameo role said it all. “I have no words,” he said.