December will put Atlético in its place and, although all the glances and the talks turn towards Port, the team would be wrong to forget the first thing in front of them (follow the game live on AS.com). Because If in the Champions League he is cornered, in the League he is not especially overrun either. Madrid looks at him with a seven-point advantage, which forces Atleti to win at a Mallorca every time more burdened. In addition, it is the last game of the year at the Wanda Metropolitano. What remains until Christmas Eve is not only tremendous, but it will be away from home: Porto, Real Madrid, Seville and Granada.
So this time the match by match brings nuances. Simeone will give breaks thinking about Tuesday, Porto, the real first final. Koke, De Paul and Griezmann do not forgive a, but Luis Suárez will take a break on the bench. It is the moment Cunha, which has been claiming prominence for weeks and will enter its first eleven. Be careful with his candidacy for the Champions League.
João Félix returns, Lemar rests
Lemar will also keep strength, the best in Cádiz and in so many afternoons. Carrasco and Giménez, with physical problems, they won’t even be in the reserve bank, just like Trippier, which hastens the recovery from his shoulder injury. The best news for the Cholo, that boasts of being full of energy, is the return of João Félix. The Portuguese will not start, but will have minutes to arrive toned to Do Dragao.
But first, the Mallorca. Those of Luis García have a mattress that protects them from the descent, but after seven days without winning it is less and less fluffy. And they come from being scared in the Cup. The Gimnástica Segoviana, from Second RFEF, took them to the limit and did not yield until the extension. The technician, by the way, has taken advantage of the trip to make a miniconcentration in Las Rozas.
Kubo, for the second half
The unknown of the Balearic Islands is Kubo. The Japanese, on loan from Madrid and yet to explode, is not entirely fine after the knee injury he suffered two months ago. Luis García probably saves it for the second half. Kang-In and Dani will put the spark until then, thinking of a long match where Atleti is prohibited from speculating and getting lost: before Porto, Mallorca.