Atlético is examined in the Cup after the break

Girona and RC Celta, also favorites to advance

MADRID, 21 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid returns this Thursday (9:00 p.m.) to the competition with its duel against Arenteiro in the second round of the Copa del Rey, a match that will serve the rojiblancos to examine their current moment and measure their urgent and necessary improvement after the break for the World Cup in Qatar, on a day in which the 'Primeras' Girona and RC Celta will also play.

The rojiblancos, champions of the Cup on ten occasions, beat SD Almazán (0-2) in their debut in the 'KO' tournament before the start of the World Cup. In a match that they always dominated and pardoned a win against the RFEF Third Division team, with an 'eleven' full of regular headlines at that time. With that victory, Atlético broke its horrible dynamics prior to the World Cup break, without allowing typical cup surprises.

Atleti came to the match against Almazán chaining five games without winning and with the European wound, being eliminated from the Champions League and not advancing to the Europa League, more open than ever. For this reason, this Thursday's match against Arenteiro is the first test of a mattress team that urgently needs to resume the competition with confidence and without another early elimination in search of a title and even more surprising.

For the match against Arenteiro, the world champions Rodrigo de Paul, Nahuel Molina and Ángel Correa are ruled out; the finalist Antoine Griezmann and the semifinalist Ivo Grbic, while training on Tuesday was lost by an indisposed Joao Félix, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Matheus Cunha, who is finalizing his departure, as Simeone himself confirmed in the previous one.

"The Cup is wonderful, it gives everyone the chance to compete well, no matter the category in a single match. The important thing is the enthusiasm you have for playing against whoever it is," reflected the Argentine, who this Thursday will reach 600 games leading the Atleti, with a winning percentage close to 60 percent.

A forced Atlético will collide with the illusion of the modest Arenteiro in O Carballiño, who dreams of giving the maximum surprise in the tournament and sneaking into the round of 16. It is the leader of Group 1 of the Second RFEF, ahead of affiliates of the First and Second Division. In its showcases it boasts a Federation Cup, in addition to the fact that Valencia and Almería, its rival in its debut this year, have already passed through Espiñedo.

This Thursday, Girona and RC Celta will also appear in this second Cup tie, the two remaining 'First' of the 14 that will compete in this round. The Catalan team will face Cacereño, a RFEF Second Division team, after beating Quintanar in extra time in their cup debut.

Míchel's men linked five victories before the break and in the League they live close to the quiet area, so they should overcome Extremadura without too much trouble, who have only added one defeat at home this season.

For their part, Celta will visit Guernika, eighth in Group 2 of the Second RFEF. The sky-blue team came undone with a win (1-6) by Algar in the first round, while the Basque team sweated to throw Leganés out of the tournament on penalties. The Galicians have only won two away games this season, and in the League they are close to relegation, so a win would boost their confidence. It will be the fourth game that Carvalhal has led, named shortly before the break.

Finally, on the agenda for Thursday, Racing de Santander, champion of the First RFEF last season and exempt from playing the first round, enters the fray. In its premiere, they will face off against Linares, who "killed" Unión Adarve. In addition, there will be a duel between LaLiga Smartbank teams with Oviedo-Granada, as well as Eldense-Burgos, La Nucia-Las Palmas and Nàstic-Málaga.

-Thursday, December 22.

CP Cacereño - Girona FC 19.00.

CD Eldense - Burgos CF 19.00.

SD Gernika Club - RC Celta 19.00.

Linares Deportivo - Real Racing Club de Santander 19.00.

CD Arenteiro - Atlético de Madrid 21.00.

CF La Nucia - UD Las Palmas 21.00.

Gymnastics of Tarragona - Málaga CF 21.00.

Real Oviedo - Granada CF 21.00.