Atlético seeks to heal its wound in the Metropolitan

Atlético seeks to heal its wound in the Metropolitan

Those of Simeone, eliminated from European competitions, receive a needy Espanyol

MADRID, 5 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid, definitively eliminated from European competitions, seeks to heal its wound in LaLiga Santander this Sunday against the needy RCD Espanyol at the Cívitas Metropolitano (2:00 p.m./DAZN), a match in which it will try to defend its third place and survive to a new trial of his fans.

The crisis in the results of the rojiblanco team this season inevitably intensified last Tuesday, when the defeat against Porto in O Dragao (2-1) left them out not only of the Champions League, but also without the possibility of playing in the League Europe, the consolation that he did have in the 2017-18 season and that served to save the campaign by lifting the title in Lyon.

"We have had the mourning of the day after, but life goes on and the sun rises again in the morning," said Diego Pablo Simeone, the center of criticism in recent weeks. "This is like a family; in the family we usually have differences with a cousin during the year, fights with your wife, changes of opinion with your brothers... but when there is a problem there is a meeting and everyone gets together. Talking and feeling Nearby explains why it is called family, and we are. Since we are a family, it is time to be all together, "he stressed.

Now, the Argentine coach and his 'family' cling to the two competitions in which they are still alive, LaLiga Santander and the Copa del Rey -which has not yet started-, to redirect a long and hard season. However, the numbers place them far from the top of the league table.

Nine points behind the leader Real Madrid and eight behind the second place, held by FC Barcelona, ​​the colchoneros (23) need to win to clinch third position, which could be in danger in the event of a second consecutive setback in the domestic competition and that the Real Betis wins the Seville derby or Real Sociedad beats Valencia.

A goal in the 99th minute from Rubén Sobrino caused the 'Cholo' team to fall last week at the Nuevo Mirandilla (3-2), after reaping four wins and a draw in the previous days, and there are now three games in a row between all competitions without knowing victory, in which he has also conceded seven goals.

Without even their traditional defensive reliability, Atlético will have to do their best in front of their fans, who have only seen their team win at home in two LaLiga games and one in the 'Champions'. Neither Koke Resurrection nor the suspended Saúl Ñíguez will be in the duel, but in exchange Simeone recovers two important men such as Thomas Lemar and Marcos Llorente, who will return directly to eleven.

In addition, Geoffrey Kondogbia returns after overcoming his physical discomfort to a midfield where Rodrigo de Paul and Yannick Carrasco repeat, while Álvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann are indisputable up front, a closed game for Joao Félix.

Opposite, Espanyol is eager to win again after three dates without doing so to try to move away from the relegation zone, which Cádiz marks with its same 11 points, all against a rival that it has only managed to win in its field on one occasion of the last ten visits.

The draws against Elche (2-2) and Mallorca (1-1), a priori rivals to avoid losing category, leave the team in a compromised situation, which has only won one victory in the last eight league games. Diego Martínez will not be able to count on the injured Rubén Sánchez and Adrià Pedrosa.

MADRID ATHLETIC: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Gimenez, Reinildo; Crying, Kondogbia, De Paul, Carrasco; Griezmann and Morata.

RCD SPANISH: Lecomte; Óscar Gil, Sergi Gómez, Cabrera, Oliván; Souza, Edu Expósito, Darder; Puado, Braithwaite and Joselu.

--REFEREE: Pulido Santana (C.Las Palmas).

--STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.