FIFA virus fades away - Atletico better than Real Madrid and Barcelona

The international break is usually a headache for all those teams that have many international players. The physical problems, injuries and fatigue that the players can accumulate are more noticeable in top-level teams, who see how four times a year they usually run out of their players with the dreaded FIFA virus.

But contrary to what it may seem, the FIFA virus does not affect the big clubs in Spain. Or at least that's what the data says. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid have barely slipped up after an international break.

For several years, FIFA has stipulated up to four breaks per season: September, October, November and March. BeSoccer wanted to study the results of the three teams after the breaks in the last five years, since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the result is clear: the difference in quality in the squads makes more of a difference than the possible fatigue and absentees.

Atletico, king of the international breaks

Atletico Madrid know how to take advantage of the return from the international break very well. The 'Rojiblancos', who face Villarreal on Saturday, are the team out of the big three that have reaped the most victories in the last five seasons. Diego Pablo Simeone's men have won in 14 of the 17 matches studied.

It is true that the last match, after the March 2025 break, ended in a one-all draw against Espanyol. It's also true that they arrive in the worst start of the Simeone era. But the 'Rojiblancos' have shown that, despite the fatigue of their players - with many from CONMEBOL - when it comes to knuckling down, they do it.

Only Valencia (3-0), after the September 2023 break, and Liverpool (2-3) after the October 2021 break, have been able to beat the 'Colchoneros' after the international fixtures. They have achieved victories against Alaves (2-1, 4-1 and 1-0), Leganes (3-1), Valencia (3-0), Villarreal (1-2), Mallorca (1-0), Celta Vigo (0-3 and 0-2), Real Betis (1-0), Sevilla (0-2), Osasuna (1-0), Espanyol (1-2) and Barcelona (1-0).

Real Madrid, the team that loses the least

Of the big three, Real Madrid are the team that has lost the fewest times after an international break. And to see it, we have to go back to October 2020, the first of those analysed. The 'Blancos' were surprised by Cadiz, who won 0-1 on 'Blanco' territory.

They are the team that has lost the least, but also the team that has drawn the most times. The 'Merengue' side have dropped points, in addition to against Cadiz, against Sevilla (1-1), Osasuna (1-1) and Villarreal (1-1).

However, they have won up to 13 matches of the 17 analysed, with victories against Leganes (3-2 and 0-3), Celta Vigo (1-2, 1-2 and 5-2), Real Sociedad (0-2 and 2-1), Athletic Bilbao (2-0), Cadiz (0-3), Valladolid (6-0), Granada (1-4), Shakhtar Donetsk (0-3), and Eibar (2-0).

Barcelona, the most affected

The team that has been most affected by the international breaks has been Barcelona. They have not dropped points many times, but they have done so on more occasions than their most direct rivals. In fact, they have lost three times, although all between October 2020 and September 2021: Getafe (1-0), Atletico (1-0) and Bayern Munich (0-3).

In addition, Barcelona have drawn both against Rayo Vallecano (1-1) after the November 2023 break, and against Celta de Vigo (2-2), in the November break last year.

However, the 'Azulgranas' have achieved 12 victories out of the 17 matches analysed, with victories against Osasuna (3-0), Sevilla (5-1 and 1-0), Girona (1-4), Las Palmas (1-0), Athletic Bilbao (1-0), Real Betis (5-0), Elche (0-4 and 3-0), Espanyol (1-0), Valencia (3-1) and Valladolid (1-0).