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Atlético seeks to straighten its European course

Atlético seeks to straighten its European course against a dangerous Bruges.

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Atlético seeks to straighten its European course

Atlético seeks to straighten its European course against a dangerous Bruges

The rojiblancos, third with three points, want to shelve the irregularity against the unbeaten leader of their Champions group

MADRID, 3 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid will face this Tuesday (9:00 p.m.) the Belgian Bruges with the aim of straightening their course in the Champions League, after an irregular start and with doubts, although they will face a dangerous and lively rival who leads their group with two victories and no goals against, contradicting its status as a theoretical 'Cinderella'.

Diego Pablo Simeone's men haven't got off to the start expected due to their squad and demands, however, the break seems to have suited the rojiblancos, who got their smile back in the last league game against Sevilla. The colchoneros prevailed (0-2) comfortably in the Sánchez-Pizjuán, with the lack of success as the only obstacle to having a feast in one of the most complicated courses in the championship.

The victory gives a break to the irregularity of Atlético, which seems that it has not finished starting and that it has in this 'marathon' month of October the great opportunity to re-enlist in the League and Europe. Precisely, those fluctuations in football and results have also affected the continental competition.

The European debut with an agonizing victory at the Metropolitano against Porto (2-1) was of little use, since the rojiblancos collapsed in the last stretch of the second day against Bayer Leverkusen to add a difficult defeat to digest (2-0 ). His bad moment increased with a discreet game in the derby lost (1-2) against Real Madrid.

The defeat in Germany caused Atlético to miss a good opportunity to get on track to qualify for the Champions League round of 16, now less affordable with the double confrontation against the Belgians, a team more dangerous than it might seem, since a priori it was the ' Cinderella' of the group, but he is the only one who has won his two games and also without conceding.

The Argentine coach has good news regarding the infirmary, since he recovers Frenchman Thomas Lemar, absent in recent games due to injury and who may already have minutes. Mario Hermoso also returns, suspended against Sevilla, and Rodrigo de Paul, increasing the options and variants for Simeone, who could continue with his rotation policy in order to distribute minutes in a key stretch of the season and who could repeat the scheme he used on Saturday with a defense of four.

It remains to be seen if Joao Félix repeats his substitution against Bruges, after remaining on the bench against Sevilla for the first time this season. The Morata-Cunha duo worked wonderfully at Pizjuán, so Simeone could insist on that pairing, with the Portuguese, Yannick Carrasco and Ángel Correa as alternatives.

Giménez, Savic and Reinildo would repeat in defense, with Molina on the right if the Argentine is physically well after finishing Saturday somewhat 'cramped'. Koke, already the player with the most games in the club, is permanent, and could be joined again by Witsel, Llorente and Saúl Ñíguez

Opposite will be a Brugge that is leading Group B of the Champions League with 6 points out of 6 possible, and no goals against. An immaculate start after beating Bayer Leverkusen (1-0) and surprisingly thrashing Porto in O Dragao (0-4) to open a gap now of three points over Atlético, who is third.

The Belgian team has only lost two games this season, and has not fallen to their fiefdom since March. The strength in their stadium will be one of their main assets against the rojiblancos, who have never won in Bruges, with a balance of two defeats and a draw.

And one of Bruges' most dangerous threats is their Spanish striker Ferran Jutglà, transferred this summer from Barça, who has seven goals and four assists between the Belgian league and the Champions League in a promising start. His mobility and hunger make him a fierce striker who is very difficult to score, and who will surely be a toothache for the red and white defense. Odoi and Boyata would be out, while Sylla will hurry to the end due to a muscle problem. DATA SHEET.

BRUJAS: Mignolet; Mata, Mechele, Sylla, Meijer; Nielsen, Onyedika, Vanaken; Yaremchuk, Jutglà y Sowah.

MADRID ATHLETIC: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Gimenez, Reinildo; Coke, Witsel, Saul; Llorente, Morata and Carrasco.

-- REFEREE: Istvan Kovacs (RUM).

--ESTADIO: Jan Breydel Stadium.