Atlético wants to consolidate the Champions League in the Metropolitan
Far from being the best place, the rojiblancos must win to hold on to Europe in their fragile fiefdom and against an agitated and urgent Getafe
MADRID, 3 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid receives Getafe this Saturday (6:30 p.m.) in a duel in which the rojiblancos will seek a victory that will keep them in Champions League positions and confirm their umpteenth league recovery, against a ‘azulón’ team in relegation and with the need to score to close the door with a slam of poor dynamics, in a match corresponding to matchday 20 of LaLiga Santander.
The rojiblancos seem to have straightened out their course in the League after two consecutive victories -Valladolid (3-0) and Osasuna (0-1)-, in search of a regularity that has resisted them until now. This Saturday they have the opportunity to add three wins in a row, something that has only happened once this season, when they beat Sevilla, Girona and Athletic Club in October.
“The field is marking the progress of the team, we are having a regular game, good intensity and we have to continue competing. The difficulties have been and will be to fight for the Champions League, and the objective is always to be among the best. For that, we have to play with the same illusion and all together”, valued Diego Pablo Simeone in the previous meeting.
And the field of play and the results leave the rojiblanca entity in fourth place in the table with 34 points, 5 behind Real Sociedad, third, and 11 and 16 behind Real Madrid and Barça, respectively. This leaves the title bordering on the miraculous, so, with the European crash and the goodbye in the Cup, maintaining and consolidating their Champions League place becomes the only incentive for Atleti. Especially when Villarreal (31), Betis (31), Rayo (29) and Osasuna (28) follow closely.
And they will have to do it in a Metropolitan where they have made many mistakes that have cost them many points -they have only taken 14 out of 27 possible at home-. Although, after the ‘punctures’ against Barça (0-1) and Almería (1-1), the group has experienced an improvement that a less demanding calendar should allow it to last over time. Atleti is now a happier and more motivated team that has recovered its defensive strength -only 2 goals conceded in its last 5 league games-.
Without injuries or sanctions, Atlético will only have the doubt of Marcos Llorente, whose presence as a starter could wait, not reaching one hundred percent after an elongation in the adductor. Simeone would bet on the 4-3-3 of recent weeks, now with Stefan Savic back and with Mario Hermoso and the already recovered José María Giménez disputing the remaining center-back position. Nahuel Molina, in top form in 2023, and Reinildo will occupy the lanes.
In the center of the field, a sensational Rodrigo de Paul becomes stronger and essential for Simeone, and would accompany Koke and Thomas Lemar. While in attack, the unknown with LLorente places Ángel Correa with many options, in a trident completed by Antoine Griezmann, six goals in the first round, and Álvaro Morata.
GETAFE HAS NOT WON AS A VISITOR TO ATLÉTICO SINCE 2010
Opposite in this Madrid derby will be a Getafe that has not yet scored in 2023, linking four consecutive defeats -Sevilla, Espanyol, Barcelona and Betis-. A dynamic that is too negative for a team built to look without fear at the middle of the table and not worry about the descent in which it is installed. The ‘azulón’ team is penultimate with 17 units, 3 from permanence.
The situation of Quique Sánchez Flores’ men is beginning to be alarming, although they only add up to one point less than those harvested last year at this point. His low offensive production has become an obstacle – he has scored more than one goal in only one of his last nine league games -, to only achieve 9 of the last 30 possible points.
To this must be added his poor record as a visitor against Atlético, whom he has not won at home since May 15, 2010, when he won 0-3 with goals from Roberto Soldado and Dani Parejo. In addition to the convulsive situation that the staff is experiencing. “There have been players who have not been able to play, others who have not wanted to play, others who have had significant difficulties in feeling identified with the club. The players have focused when the markets have closed”, revealed the coach.
Getafe faces the derby with Fabrizio Angileri out due to a muscle injury, in addition to Mauro Arambarri and Munir, who will return “soon”. Sánchez Flores could vary the formation, although it seems that he will opt for his traditional defense of five. With a very recognizable ‘eleven’, Juan Iglesias and Portu will fight for the left lane, with the trinomial Milla-Algobia-Aleñá very established. Enes Ünal, author of a double at the Metropolitano last year, will be the great threat.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
ATHLETIC MADRID: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Gimenez, Reinildo; Koke, DePaul, Lemar; Correa, Griezmann and Morata.
GETAFE: Soria; Damian, Djene, Duarte, Alderete, Iglesias; Luis Milla, Algobia, Alena; Enes Ünal and Mayoral.
–REFEREE: Mateu Lahoz (C. Valenciano).
–STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.