Atlético wants to take off again against an Athletic come to more
The mattress team will honor the 125 years of the Basques by giving them the rojiblanco at the Metropolitan
MADRID, 18 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid receives Athletic Club this Sunday (6:30 p.m./Movistar LaLiga) in a duel in which they will try to strengthen their fourth position and aspire to continue climbing, with the obligation to take advantage of their last victory in Vigo, while the team Bilbao arrives at a good time but with the task of confirming his improvement and assaulting the European squares.
The local team will not wear rojiblanco at the Cívitas Metropolitano and will allow their rival to do so as a tribute to their 125-year history. The Madrid team, which recalled this Monday that its birth arose from the Bilbao institution after a group of Basque students living in Madrid promoted, in 1903, its foundation under the name of Athletic Club de Madrid, has decided to pay them this tribute.
The rojiblancos from the capital are now fourth in the table with 38 points, one ahead of a reborn Real Betis that is a Europa League team, although with one more game. Above, Real Sociedad is five points behind the colchoneros after the draw (1-1) harvested against Celta de Vigo this Saturday, so they have a golden opportunity to get closer again to that long-awaited third place .
The Madrid team already offered a lesson in resistance last Sunday in Abanca Balaídos (0-1), where they managed to beat RC Celta despite playing with one less player from minute 70 due to the expulsion of Stefan Savic, all thanks to the first as much as Memphis Depay’s rojiblanco with one minute to spare.
With only two shots on goal, Diego Pablo Simeone’s team took advantage of an opponent who did not take advantage of their superiority. In the 89th minute, after a shot from Yannick Carrasco, the Dutch forward caught the rebound and sent the ball into the back of the net.
With the confirmed casualties of Savic, due to suspension, and the doubts of Thomas Lemar, who did not jump onto the pitch at Cerro del Espino in the last session of the week, and of Memphis Depay, absent in the first training sessions as a result of a blow that suffered during the match against Celta, the Argentine coach will bet on a starting eleven very similar to that of Vigo.
The ‘Cholo’ could opt for Reinildo as left back in the traditional defense with Molina on the right and Giménez accompanying Hermoso as a central pair. In the center of the field, Llorente would win the game over Correa on the right, with Koke, a toned De Paul and youth player Barrios bringing freshness. In attack, Morata and Griezmann would form the forward duo.
ATHLETIC WILL BE A BONE
For their part, the group led by ‘Txingurri’ Valverde arrives at the Metropolitan with the idea of endorsing the good work of their last league games. The solvent victory against Cádiz (4-1) with a hat-trick by Oihan Sancet and the comeback against Valencia (1-2) in the previous league game with another key goal from the young youth squad, allows the Basques to see up close the European squares.
‘Los Leones’ entrust themselves to the good form of ‘Lince’, with eight goals this season, to attack a field and win against a team that has not been bad in recent seasons. The last 5 direct clashes between the two teams ended with three victories for Athletic Club, one win for Atlético de Madrid and a draw.
However, the mattress team’s victory came in the last match between the two teams, in the first round of LaLiga 22/23. A confrontation in which Atlético won by the minimum thanks to Griezmann’s goal (0-1).
The ‘Txingurri’, which renewed this Friday until 2024, will be able to have all its players except for the already known casualties of Íñigo Martínez and Ander Herrera. The Basque coach could line up an eleven with Vivian and Yeray in the center of the rear, escorted by De Marcos and Yuri on the sides. The midfield would be up to Iker Muniain, helped by Mikel Vesga and the star Sancet with the Williams brothers at the point of attack.
DATASHEET:
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
ATHLETIC MADRID: Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Gimenez, Hermoso, Reinildo; Koke, De Paul, Marcos Llorente, Barrios; Morata, Griezman.
ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simon; De Marks, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Vesga, Muniain, Sunset; Berenguer, Nico Williams.
–REFEREE: Juan Martinez Munuera (C. Andalusia).
–STADIUM: Metropolitan Civitas.
–TIME: 6:30 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.