Correa, Atlético de Madrid's "Angel" Savior
It doesn't matter that he's not a starter because the Argentine forward needs very little to repeatedly prove that he is Atlético de Madrid's talisman.
Ángel Correa has proven to be the "Angel" savior for Atlético de Madrid in the 2024-25 season. The Argentine forward has become the team's talisman, scoring decisive goals in the most critical moments of matches, earning his side crucial points in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.
Once again, Correa was decisive, scoring the winning goal in the dying moments against Paris Saint-Germain in the fourth matchday of the Champions League. The goal, netted in the 90+3' minute, secured three vital points for Diego Simeone's side, bringing them closer to qualification for the next round of the European tournament.
Such performances are nothing new for Correa. In fact, the "Angel" has made stoppage time his specialty this season. In the fourth round of La Liga, the Argentine scored in injury time to give Atlético the win over Athletic Club. Just four minutes after coming on, Correa took advantage of a steal and a pass from Alexander Sorloth to round the goalkeeper and seal the victory.
Four rounds later, in the Madrid derby, Correa once again played a leading role, scoring in the 95th minute to level the score and salvage a point that seemed lost. His goal sparked wild celebrations at the Metropolitano and solidified his role as a game-changer, one of those players who always has the ability to step up when needed most.
Correa’s impact in La Liga is clear: every time he scores, Atlético remains unbeaten. Of his 57 goals in the competition, 47 have been wins, and 10 have been draws, highlighting his importance in crucial moments.
With a total of 83 goals in the rojiblanco shirt, 27 of which have been scored coming off the bench, Correa has established himself as one of Atlético Madrid's most valuable players, despite not always being a starter. His ability to change the course of matches has only increased his importance to the team.
Diego Simeone, Atlético’s coach, praised his player after the latest Champions League match: "When he enters the field, things always happen. We know how important he is for us, the ‘12’ of the team. He’s called Ángel for a reason."
Furthermore, Atlético de Madrid has shown that they do not rely solely on Correa. Several players have contributed to late goals this season. In La Liga, in addition to Correa’s goals against Athletic and Real Madrid, Julián Álvarez scored the winning goal in the 90th minute at Vigo, while José María Giménez secured the victory in the dying moments against Leipzig in the Champions League.
The rojiblancos also had to wait until the 81st minute to score in the Copa del Rey against Vic, a sixth-division team, which highlights Atlético’s resilience and ability to overcome any adversity.
In summary, Atlético de Madrid’s season is being defined by the team's ability to score decisive goals in the final minutes. And Ángel Correa, with his angelic "timonel" role, continues to be the key player who, at every opportunity, gives Simeone's side a vital breath of relief.