Conor Gallagher continues to shine following his Chelsea exit as he grabbed another goal for Atletico Madrid.
The 24-year-old was on target in his side’s 1-1 draw away at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night to maintain Atletico‘s unbeaten start in LaLiga.
Gallagher has impressed since swapping Stamford Bridge for Spain in the summerAFP
Gallagher equalised in the 49th minute at the Estadio de Vallecas with a brilliant first-time curling finish into the bottom corner from outside the box.
In doing so, he has brought up his second goal for the Spanish giants.
It has seen him go level with Cole Palmer and Emile Smith Rowe as the highest scoring English midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.
While he is leading compatriot Jude Bellingham, who is yet to open his account for the new season for Atletico’s rivals Real Madrid.
But Gallagher’s latest strike has seen him become the first English midfielder to find the back of the net in back-to-back league games this term.
The 18-cap Three Lions international scored his first Atletico goal in the 3-0 win over Valencia on September 15.
And having got on the score sheet in consecutive matches, Gallagher has achieved a feat he failed to do at Chelsea from his 72 Premier League matches.
Gallagher had never scored in successive top-flight fixtures for the Blues, with the last time he did so coming in November 2021 during his Crystal Palace loan spell.
It is just the third time he has done so, having also scored in two league games in a row on loan at West Brom in December 2020.
His dazzling displays for Atletico have seen him pick up the man of the match award in each of his last two appearances.
Gallagher has scored in back-to-back LaLiga games under Simeone’s tutelageGetty
Besides his goal against Vallecano, Gallagher was involved in 18 duels – winning nine of them.
It is the most recorded by an Atletico player in the Spanish top-flight this season.
Simeone has sung Gallagher’s praises following his impressive start at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Speaking last week, Simeone said: “He came with a lot of enthusiasm, and we needed that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better.
“He does not stop giving his best in every game situation in which he participates.”