497 days have passed since the last time Diego Pablo Simeone did not align start to Koke and Saúl. Two players who in addition to being two of the team captains are two emblems of Atlético de Madrid at the moment. That is why they are fixed at Cholo's eleven in recent seasons. Until they played against Valladolid.
The last time the rojiblanco team started a game without either team was against the Real Betis. On February 3, 2019 they both stayed in Madrid to recover from their injuries and did not travel with the team. The mattresses lost 1-0 with a goal of Channels penalty in the 65th minute. A day that was remembered for being the debut of Morata. A debut in which not even the VAR saw a maximum penalty that made him Feddal. The team gave the face but could not take a point from the Benito Villamarín.
And it is rare to see so much Koke like Saul on the bench, and seeing them both is a historical fact. The compact calendar has forced the Cholo to give them rest because they know that otherwise they may lose them in future games. Both have already been replaced, the Vallecano left prematurely against the Athletic and the Alicante did it against Osasuna in the last match.
It should be remembered that until now Saúl has played all the matches of Athletic, except for the one that was played on matchday 14 against Pomegranate. That day the ‘8’ of Athletic the match was lost by penalty. The mattress makers tied one. An encounter in which Thomas was also missing.
For his part, Koke He has had to stay out a lot longer because of the injuries that have brought him for much of the championship down the path of bitterness. In the league he has lost five games, one of Copa del Rey and the end of the European Super Cup. Matches in which the Atlético de Madrid failed to win.
Against Valladolid the Cholo You will have both players in the chamber to participate in the second half if the match requires it.