Atlético does not want to be intimidated by the 'yellow wall'

Atlético does not want to be intimidated by the 'yellow wall'

The colchoneros seek to leave behind their weakness at home and defend the 2-1 of the Metropolitano against Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park

MADRID, 15 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid will try to make use of its small lead from the first leg (2-1) against the German Borussia Dortmund this Tuesday to seal its return to the semifinals of the 2023-2024 Champions League, although it will have to forget its vertigo this year at home to survive the environment that awaits you at Signal Iduna Park.

The red and white team is close to reaching the penultimate round of the top continental competition again, something they have not done for seven years, when Real Madrid knocked them out of their fourth European Cup final. Now, he comes ahead in this tie against a European champion whom he had on the ropes a week ago at the Cívitas Metropolitano, but whom he did not finish executing to arrive with a little more peace of mind.

The well-known and impressive 'yellow wall' of the 'Borusser' fiefdom will test an Atlético team that will need a solid and uncompromising night in the aspect in which it is failing the most this season, which is the away game. The scenario and what is at stake does not allow for confusion or weak performances against a Borussia team that will presumably come out with great intensity, seeking to create 'fear' and equalize the tie as soon as possible.

The red and white team hopes to have learned the lessons that their travels are leaving them this season, a real headache that has cost them more than one disappointment, although the most positive thing is that they were able to win in the last one, against Villarreal. That long-suffering victory, with the last goal from Saúl Níguez, the victory in the first leg of the Champions League and this Saturday's comeback against Girona to consolidate fourth place in LaLiga EA Sports and get closer to the third of Michel's team make him arrive encouraged to this important duel.

Simeone did not forget the importance of this league match and did not make too many rotations thinking about the visit to Signal Iduna Park, where the last time he was there he was soundly beaten (4-0), then in the group stage of the 2018-2019 campaign. . Players like Antoine Griezmann, who scored a double and seems to be reunited with his best and most necessary version at the key moment, Koke Resurrección, Rodrigo de Paul and Nahuel Molina were starters, with the captain and the full-back playing the entire match, while that Álvaro Morata had to leave just before the break due to the injury of a recovered Saúl for Dortmund.

These five footballers will once again be part of the starting game, except for a surprise in the eleven that the 'Cholo' has, who did give rest to the three centre-backs who will need to score perfectly to try to keep a clean sheet, the maximum guarantee of classification for the semi-finals. Thus, Axel Witsel, who is returning 'home', José María Giménez and César Azpilicueta, had a rest, completely in the case of the Uruguayan, and Marcos Llorente was also initially on the bench.

However, the Argentine coach could be more 'cautious' to alleviate one of the two casualties he has, that of the suspended Samu Lino, in addition to that of the injured Memphis Depay. The Brazilian will leave the left lane 'orphaned' and it could be Azpilicueta and not the theoretical natural substitute in that position, Rodrigo Riquelme, more offensive and with 'fewer' defensive concepts, who occupies a position to which he is accustomed. That would cause Savic or Hermoso to enter the defense.

Face a Borussia Dortmund that appeals to its stadium to attempt a comeback and return to the semifinals of the highest continental competition eleven years after, with Juergen Klopp on the bench, losing the German final against Bayern Munich.

The 1997 European champion was already able to overcome the 1-0 defeat by Dutch PSV in the round of 16, but he knows that Atlético will surely find it more complicated and that he should not make the concessions that cost him so dearly last week in the Metropolitan.

Edin Terzic has the good news of the recovery of a key player in attack such as the Dutch winger Donyell Malen, scorer of 11 goals this season in the Bundesliga, but in exchange he has lost another such as the Ivorian striker Sebastian Haller, who scored the goal in the capital and is out due to an ankle problem.

Like the colchoneros, the 'wasps' are immersed in the fight for fourth place in the Bundesliga and in their 1-2 victory against Borussia Moenchengladbach last Saturday they also gave rest to possible starters such as Sancho, Hummels, Maatsen, Can, Malen and Fullkrug.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can; Sancho, Brandt, Paint; y filling jug.

ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Giménez, Witsel, Hermoso; Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Azpilicueta; Griezmann and Morata.

--REFEREE: Slavko Vincic (SLO).

--STADIUM: Signal Iduna Park.

--TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar Champions League 2.