Betis examines an Atlético without Simeone before Anfield
The rojiblancos seek to leave behind their last two draws against a rival who defends their ‘Champions’ position
MADRID, 30 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid faces this Sunday at the Wanda Metropolitano (4.15pm / Movistar LaLiga), on the twelfth day of LaLiga Santander and before visiting Anfield, a high-level clash against Real Betis in which it will try to leave behind its doubts about the last matches and regain confidence against an opponent who will defend their ‘Champions’ position.
After the national team break, even longer due to the postponement of their duel against Granada, the rojiblancos were unable to win any of the three games played. In the Champions League, a penalty goal by Mohamed Salah after the expulsion of Griezmann, author of the two goals that allowed him to tie the match, condemned them against Liverpool (2-3), and in LaLiga things were not much better .
The current champion of the domestic championship saved a point, with a double by Luis Suárez, against Real Sociedad (2-2), and last week he drew again at the Ciutat de València (2-2), where Levante punished him with a penalty from Enis Bardhi in the last minute of regulation time.
Thus, those of Diego Pablo Simeone close the continental positions, sixth, with 19 points, to five of the San Sebastian and Real Madrid and two of a ‘Champions’ area that precisely marks their rival this Sunday and from which they could snatch their position of privilege with a victory in his field, where since Friday the statue of one of his legends: Luis Aragonés shines.
Now, they will try to pay the ‘Sabio de Hortaleza’, also a Betic player, the best of tributes before traveling to England to avenge, at the mythical Anfield, the defeat of the first round against the ‘reds’ in search of get closer to the leadership of Group B.
Without the injured Thomas Lemar and Marcos Llorente and with the doubt of Geoffrey Kondogbia, with discomfort in the pubis, the ‘Cholo’, who will not sit on the bench after being sent off last Thursday, could have planned a couple of changes in the eleven compared to the one he formed against the granota team.
Thus, Stefan Savic could return to the center of the rear in place of Felipe after overcoming some muscular problems, while Rodrigo de Paul will form from the beginning to the detriment of Héctor Herrera. Above, Griezmann, Joao Félix and Luis Suárez will once again be the reference above despite the fact that the team has not won in the last two games in which it has opted for this formula.
THE BETIS DEFENDS THE ‘CHAMPIONS’
In front, Real Betis will seek to defend its fourth place and extend the best streak of recent days in the category. With 21 units, three behind the lead and tied with Real Madrid and Sevilla FC, Manuel Pellegrini’s team is going through one of its best moments in recent years.
In the rojiblanco coliseum they will look for their fourth win in a row after defeating Deportivo Alavés (0-1), Rayo Vallecano (3-2) and Valencia (4-1) in their last matches, which have allowed them to become the second most First scorer (19) only behind the madridistas (24).
Before facing Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday and next weekend at Sevilla, with whom they tied just a week ago, the Verdiblanco team could make rotations forced by the losses and encouraged by the good performances that some of the players with less minutes.
To the absences of Víctor Camarasa, Paul Akouokou and Youssouf Sabaly, the Chilean coach has added that of Héctor Bellerín due to a stomach virus, and the discomfort of Borja Iglesias, which forced him to be absent on Friday from training, will leave a clear path a priori for the ownership of Willian José.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Trippier, Giménez, Savic, Hermoso, Carrasco; De Paul, Koke; Joao Félix, Griezmann and Luis Suárez.
REAL BETIS: Bravo; Montoya, Bartra, Édgar, Miranda; Guido Rodríguez, Carvalho, Canales; Rodri, Fekir; and Willian José.
– REFEREE: Alberola Rojas (C. Castellano-Manchego).
–STADIUM: Wanda Metropolitano.
–TIME: 16.15 / Movistar LaLiga.