Atletico Madrid 2026-27 Season Preview: Lineups, Transfers, Predictions

The 2026-27 season for Atletico Madrid will see a reshaped attack, following the departure of their all-time top scorer Antoine Griezmann. The team now relies on a group of returning World Cup winners and three new signings. After a preseason campaign filled with mixed results, Atleti aims to improve upon their fourth-place finish in the previous season.

Head coach Diego Simeone, who has been with the club for six years, now faces his sixth season without a trophy. He has been given more attacking options to work with, and his task is to integrate these new faces into a system that emphasizes structure and intensity. The summer transfer window saw the addition of Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman, South Korean forward Kang-in Lee, Spanish full-back Alex Grimaldo, and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand.

Talks are ongoing for further additions, particularly a potential signing of Tottenham and Argentina defender Cristián Romero. Julián Álvarez, who has been a subject of transfer speculation throughout the summer, will continue to be the focal point of Atletico's attack. However, his performance last season was disappointing, and his motivation and focus will be crucial for the upcoming campaign.

In midfield, Pablo Barrios is expected to take on a more prominent role, as Koke is expected to retire from the club. Barrios, despite struggling with injuries last season, has the potential to become a box-to-box midfielder with his exceptional passing ability and work rate. The team's expected lineup will likely shift from the 4-2-3-1 system used last season to a new 3-4-1-2 formation.