Atlético wants to build its European reconquest

Atlético wants to build its European reconquest

The rojiblancos, without the world champions, return to the League after the World Cup against a needy Elche

MADRID, 28 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid receives this Thursday at the Cívitas Metropolitano (9:30 p.m.) Elche on matchday 15 of LaLiga Santander, a duel in which the rojiblancos hope to recover their smile after more than two months without winning in the domestic championship, against a A team from Elche, a bottom club that has yet to win in the league and begins the second part of the season with a major challenge and the urgent need to score points.

Between rumors of departures and arrivals in a winter market that begins in January, the colchoneros face the league return without much margin for error and with the memory of the delicate moment they left behind before the World Cup. In the last five league games they only added one win (1-2), on October 25 against Betis, and they have now accumulated almost three months without winning at home.

Diego Pablo Simeone's men must have reset and corrected the errors, especially defensive ones, which showed a somewhat weak team in a plot that they have traditionally dominated. 11 goals against in the last 7 games before the break is a very negative balance, with a defense full of doubts and alternating between a defense of three or four men.

"We have important players, I am the one who has to improve, so that they can raise their level in the League," said the Argentine in the previous one. A victory would give security to the forced regeneration that must lead for the remainder of the season. Now without European stimulus after another major misfortune before the World Cup break, the rojiblancos want to once again be the rival to beat for the 'Champions zone' where they are tied on points with Athletic, fourth, and Betis.

For the return to LaLiga Santander, the 'Cholo', now without Matheus Cunha, will be aware of the inconveniences that José María Giménez and Axel Witsel are having, which could complicate the preparation of the defense, especially the Belgian, absent in the last training session . The Uruguayan would accompany Stefan Savic and Mario Hermoso behind -to the detriment of Reinildo-, in an eleven in which the great doubt will once again be Joao Félix, who does not seem to have a good relationship with the coach.

The Portuguese missed the last rojiblanco win in the Cup against Arenteiro (1-3) due to tonsillopharyngitis. This week, the forward has entered the Argentine's trials accompanying Antoine Griezmann, but all the noise that has been generated around him could complicate his ownership.

In that last cup match, the youth player Pablo Barrios stood out, who seems to have 'fallen in love' with Simeone, competing to repeat ownership. In addition, the Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak is doubtful, so Ivo Grbic, almost newcomer after the World Cup, could return to occupy the goal.

Elche arrives at the Metropolitano with the same need that has dragged on since the start of the championship, but with renewed enthusiasm for the launch of the project of the new coach Pablo Machín. The challenge of assaulting the rojiblanco fiefdom seems huge, although at the same time it will be a wonderful opportunity to add their first victory and carry the backpack of confidence for the second half of the season.

Machín, the third occupant of the franjiverde bench this season, travels to the Metropolitan with the casualties of the injured Josan and Pol Lirola, in addition to that of the suspended Gerard Gumbau. After the friendlies during the break -one win and two losses-, and the Cup victory in Guadalajara, it remains to be seen if the coach, given the lack of troops in the right lane, maintains his traditional line of three central defenders, or if he modifies the scheme.

"We have to reflect everything we have worked on. We know that the rival is going to demand a lot from us, we will try to demand and improve, but given the urgency we have, we must do it as soon as possible," said a Machín who has achieved score in three of their five duels (3 draws) against Simeone.

The Elche team must reverse a situation that is already untenable and start adding three by three. They still have not opened the box for victories in the League, with ten defeats and four draws. Some numbers that sentence him as the current bottom player to eight points from permanence. They have not beaten Atlético since 2002 (5-1) and have eight consecutive defeats against this rival in the domestic championship, which they have never beaten as visitors.

ATHLETIC: Oblak; Llorente, Savic, Gimenez, Reinildo, Carrasco; Coke, Kondogbia, Lemar; Joao Felix and Griezmann.

ELCHE: Bay; Palaces, Rock, Verdu, Bigas, Clerk; Mascarell, Raul Guti; Pere Milla, Boyé and Fidel.

--REFEREE: Cuadra Fernández (C. Balearic Islands).

--STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.

--TIME: 9:30 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.