Breaking Down Mario Mandzukic's Stats for Atletico Madrid This Season

When he arrived at Atletico Madrid from Bayern Munich last summer, Mario Mandzukic faced the unenviable task of replacing Diego Costa. 

Indeed, under Diego Simeone, the feisty Brazilian-born striker had flourished at the Vicente Calderon. In Atleti's aggressive, in-your-face style based on physicality, defensive strength and counter-attacking, he was the perfect fit—and Simeone built the entire team around him. 

Of course, the result was a remarkable run to last season's title in La Liga and an appearance in the final of the Champions League, with Costa earning a reputation as one of the world's finest strikers in the process.

It's why Mandzukic's challenge was a daunting one when he arrived: Not only was he burdened with trying to replicate that success, but he also had to ensure the continuity of Atletico's robust identity.  

Naturally, the transition has taken time and has encountered difficulties. But the Croatian's record in the Spanish capital this season is impressive, helping Atletico to maintain their position among Spain's elite in 2014-15. 

As a penalty-area predator, Mandzukic is clearly a vastly different type of striker from Costa.

While the Spain international uses his strong running and adept dribbling skills to act as a one-man counter-attack, the Croatian thrives as a traditional target man, compensating for his lack of mobility by physically overwhelming his opponents in the box. 

Here's a breakdown of his season across all competitions:

Though he hasn't been as prolific in La Liga as Costa was a season earlier, Mandzukic has been excellently supported by strike partner Antoine Griezmann at the Vicente Calderon.

Between them, they have 26 goals in the Primera Division, and both men sit comfortably among the league's top-10 scorers. 

What's interesting to note, however, is that Mandzukic's goal tally in relation to his team's overall scoring output stacks up quite nicely with that of Costa from last season.

Having scored 20 of Atletico's 78 goals in all competitions so far in 2014-15, the Croatian's scoring contribution, as a percentage of his team's overall return, isn't that far behind the mark set by his predecessor in Atletico's stunning 2013-14 campaign. 

Additionally, after Costa's blistering opening to last season that propelled Atletico to their unexpected position at the top of La Liga, it would be natural to think that Mandzukic is well off that pace at this stage of the season. 

But that's not actually the case.

At the corresponding point of the previous campaign, Costa was only seven goals ahead of where his successor is now. Given the extremely contrasting levels of attention and praise the pair have received, that's a smaller difference than many might expect. 

Also a reflection of his work rate is that Mandzukic ranks sixth among Atletico's players this season for defensive clearances, per WhoScored.com, with only Diego Godin, Miranda, Jose Gimenez, Guilherme Siqueira and Tiago having made more. 

But despite compiling an impressive record, reports suggest Mandzukic could be moved by Atletico at season's end. 

Last week, A.R. Barbero and L. Aznar of Marca suggested Simeone wasn't pleased with the Croatian's attitude and intensity after being left on the bench against Sevilla—something that appeared to be justified when the manager left Mandzukic out of the starting XI for a second straight game against Valencia. 

As examined here, it appears Atletico want to move in a different direction next season, with French newspaper L'Equipe, via Ian Holyman of ESPN FC, reporting that Simeone wants Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani as the attacking foundation of his side. 

Whether or not such moves will eventuate remains unclear, but Mandzukic can be pleased with his body of work to date in the Spanish capital.