Betis-Atlético, a duel worth a Champions League ticket
Simeone’s men are looking for their third consecutive victory in the League against a Betis with a good hangover
MADRID, 5 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid faces Real Betis this Sunday (9:00 p.m.) on matchday 27 in the Santander League, with the aim of consolidating their reaction and assaulting the ‘Champions’ positions against a direct rival who arrives at the meeting fed up with morale after getting the ticket for the Copa del Rey final.
Diego Pablo Simeone’s team won in Pamplona as a turning point (0-3) and certified their awakening against Celta (2-0) last weekend. This Sunday, he has an even more difficult stake: he is third in the league, brand new cup finalist and the revelation team of the season for his daring with the ball.
The colchoneros have rediscovered their style, they have gained defensive reliability and are hitting the opponent’s area. This has been demonstrated in the last two weeks where it seems that “something has changed” in the red and white squad. “If there is a strong group, things always turn out well,” said ‘Cholo’ at the previous press conference.
The Argentine coach knows that it is a unique opportunity, after letting the postponed match against Levante slip away, to get into the ‘Champions’ and not give life to Real Sociedad, who press from sixth position. The current champion cannot fail this Sunday if he does not want to complicate his participation among the best in Europe next year.
Simeone will not be able to count on Savic, who is suspended as well as injured, in the same way as Mario Hermoso, Wass, Cunha and Kondogbia, who are still in the infirmary. Koke will not be in the game either despite having trained with the group.
In this way, the midfield will be a matter of De Paul, Llorente and Héctor Herrera, who confirmed this week that he will leave Atleti at the end of this campaign. In attack, Luis Suárez’s doubts remain, a great protagonist in the questions to Simeone, although it seems that he will have to continue waiting for his opportunity from the bench.
For its part, Betis is in a cloud after certifying its pass to the Copa del Rey final, the fifth in its history and the first in 17 years, after eliminating Rayo Vallecano 2-3 on aggregate and a both miraculous by Borja Iglesias in added time. Villamarín was unleashed on a day in history that allows him to meet Valencia on April 23 at La Cartuja.
A BETIS WITHOUT REST
With that letter of introduction, the Verdiblanco team goes to the match against the mattresses, just 48 hours off, a very different way of preparing for the clash in relation to Atlético, who have had the whole week by being eliminated from the Cup. The Andalusians will have to manage “mental effort more than physical,” said his coach Manuel Pellegrini.
The Chilean’s proposal is being revealing in a Betis that had been without this illusion for many years. Those of the Thirteen Barras are the only Spanish club that is still alive in three competitions and this Sunday they will try to draw strength from their state of mind to continue clinging to third place and take advantage of Sevilla’s puncture in Mendizorroza to get closer to second position.
Betis, which could make several rotations in its starting eleven, is missing Sergio Canales due to the accumulation of cards, and the injured Martín Montoya and Víctor Camarasa. Pellegrini’s main novelties would be Guardado in the midfield and the versatile Aitor Ruibal on one of the flanks.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
BETIS: Rui Silva; Bellerín, Bartra, Víctor Ruiz, Álex Moreno; Saved, Guido Rodriguez; Ruibal, Fekir, Juanmi; and Borja Iglesias
ATLETICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Felipe, Gimenez, Reinildo; Of Paul, Llorente, Herrera, Lodi; Correa and Joao Felix.
–REFEREE: Cuadra Fernández (C.Balearic).
–STADIUM: Benito Villamarin.
–TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.