Atlético Madrid players do not hide their disappointment with the poor condition of the pitch at their home ground, the Metropolitano Stadium. After the defeat on Sunday against Betis in La Liga, captain Koke expressed his frustration with the state of the pitch. This loss to Betis comes just three days after Diego Simeone's team had thrashed the same side in Seville at the Estadio de la Cartuja (the Betis' temporary home while the Benito Villamarín is being renovated). Following that match, Antoine Griezmann had already mentioned the poor pitch awaiting his team in Madrid, comparing it to the one used in the Copa del Rey match. "This pitch at Cartuja is the best in Spain. Ours doesn't help us much and makes the game difficult for us. We are a team that tries to play. Here we moved a lot, participated off the ball, and that helps a lot for those who have it," the Frenchman stated. This season, the Metropolitano hosted an NFL team, the Miami Dolphins, who trained there before their game at Santiago Bernabéu, which forced Atlético to replant the pitch. The dominance that the colchoneros had at home has now vanished: after 13 consecutive victories this season, they lost to Bodo/Glimt (1-2) in the Champions League and now to Betis. The team's next match is again in Madrid, facing Barcelona next Thursday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Metropolitano Stadium After the remains central to this story.
Metropolitano Stadium After the remains central to this story.
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