Atlético defends the Champions League at the Metropolitano

Atlético defends the Champions League at the Metropolitano

The rojiblancos face a Valladolid at home in low hours with the obligation to add to avoid falling from the Champions League positions

   MADRID, 20 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid receives Real Valladolid this Saturday (6:30 p.m.) with the obligatory task of winning to hold on to the Champions League positions, facing the threat of up to five teams two points down in the table, while the Pucelano team wants to take advantage of the opportunity of the Metropolitan to build an urgent escalation, when they are already close to relegation, in a duel corresponding to matchday 18 of LaLiga Santander.

Those of 'Cholo' Simeone seemed to pick up cruising speed after the World Cup break with three consecutive victories, two of them in the Cup. The Argentine coach insisted that he saw the team better, much more similar to what he wants on the field However, in the first level exam, the doubts returned. The rojiblancos fell (0-1) against FC Barcelona, ​​missing out on a wonderful opportunity to re-engage at the top of the League, with the Catalans at 13 points and Real Madrid at 10.

The pothole that began against Barça deepened the following day, when they could not get past a draw (1-1) against Almería at the Power Horse Stadium. The match left evidence of the lack of 'punch', with only Ángel Correa's goal in 12 shots, six of them quite clear. Doubts and uncertainty once again took over a mattress team unable to make regularity their routine.

And this season, the best remedy for this unusual disorder in Simeone's team is the Copa del Rey, which has already become an oasis for the rojiblancos. As in the previous rounds, Atleti did not fail in the round of 16 this Wednesday against Levante (0-2), recovering the goal with goals from Marcos Llorente and an Álvaro Morata who once again celebrated a goal after scoring just one goal in the last seven games of League.

And the red and white reaction must be a must, since they are now fourth with 28 points in the table, but tied with two of their pursuers (Villarreal and Betis) and with Osasuna (27), Athletic and Rayo (26) also threatening. Atleti have never been left out of the 'top 4' in the first round of the competition since Simeone started his first season in charge of the bench.

The rojiblancos entrust their options in attack to Correa, Morata, Griezmann and, perhaps starting this Saturday, to Memphis Depay. The Dutchman is now officially a rojiblanco player, so he could play in the league again for the first time since September. And it is that his participation so far has been residual, with a leading role in the World Cup and 74 minutes against InterCity in the Cup as the last service for the Catalans.

Atlético will receive the blanquivioleta team with the casualties of the suspended Stefan Savic and Sergio Reguilón. Although there are no confirmed casualties due to injury, José María Giménez and Yannick Carrasco will be serious doubts, since they missed the Cup match due to muscular problems that have dragged on all week. Regarding the 'eleven', the Argentine could give more weight to Koke, Correa, Thomas Lemar and Axel Witsel, substitutes against Levante, although a revolution is not expected.

In front will be an injured Real Valladolid, who visits the Civitas Metropolitano with the urgent need to start adding three by three. The Blanquivioletas have lost four games in the League -Athletic (3-0), Real Madrid (0-2), Mallorca (1-0) and Rayo (0-1)-, and have not won in the competition since November 5 (against Elche, 2-1), before the break.

A bad dynamic to which was added their elimination from the Cup at the hands of Alavés that has caused Valladolid to fall to seventeenth place with 17 points, only one above the red zone. "We have to press well, be consistent, have the ball and give them scares. I think we're conceding less, but what worries me the most is that we're not making many chances," the club's coach, Pacheta, commented in the preview about a duel in which Valladolid has not prevailed for 14 years.

The coach will have the casualties of Monchu, sanctioned, and Escudero, Kenedy and Anuar, due to injury. However, Pacheta can celebrate the return of Roque Mesa, warned, and Joaquín, absent in some training this week. The return of Sergio León is expected after serving a suspension, as well as Óscar Plano could enter, with the great doubt on the left side between Rosa and Olaza. In addition, he could count on Darwin Machís, an imminent blanquivioleta signing, as confirmed by the coach himself.

ATHLETIC MADRID: Oblak; Molina, Witsel, Hermoso, Reinildo; Llorente, Koke, Kondogbia, Lemar; Griezmann and Morata.

REAL VALLADOLID: Masip; Fresneda, Joaquin, Javi Sanchez, Rosa; Kike Pérez, Aguado, Iván Sánchez; Gonzalo Plata, Oscar Plano and Sergio León.

--REFEREE: De Burgos Bengoetxea (C. Vasco)

--STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.