Atlético’s Rising Star Breaks Out Against the Capital Rivals

By Dan Stelly | Photo via Atlético Madrid

Note: Each week, we work with EA Sports FIFA, one of our sponsors, to highlight a player from their Ultimate Team, which assembles the best players from international and club competition around the world. If you’d like to have this piece (along with other dispatches from the soccer universe) delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our weekly bulletin.

Saúl is our player of the week for his breakout performance, including a spectacular overhead kick, in Atlético Madrid’s 4–0 thrashing of Real Madrid.

Before stepping into the spotlight, the 20-year-old had collected just 13 league appearances for Atlético since joining the first team during the 2011–12 campaign. Saturday’s standout showing wasn’t Saul’s first match against los Blancos, though — the Spanish youth international started for Atlético in the first leg of their triumphant Spanish Super Cup tie earlier this season.

Still, Saúl’s increasing presence in the first team couldn’t have foretold last weekend’s display. After replacing an injured Koke ten minutes into the game, the midfielder gave Atlético a 2–0 advantage with a brilliant scissor kick and went on to assist Antoine Griezmann for his side’s third. In all, the hosts finished with four as well as their first home victory over Real since 1999.

Check out Saúl’s overhead kick below.