Curves come to Atlético

Atlético reached the break with the feeling that it was coming at a very bad time, as it slowed its takeoff after several notable performances, and it will come out of it with the obligation to perform at its best from day one so as not to deflate the balloon of illusion that João Félix and company prepared. The team will rejoin its 15 internationals during the week and, starting on Saturday, he will face a very complicated stretch of the calendar. During 22 (or 23) days, Simeone's men have seven games to consolidate in the upper part of the League, even as a leader, and finish off their qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League. It is the revalidation of this hopeful Atleti.

This Saturday Barça arrives at the Wanda Metropolitano and the coaching staff will circle the eleven until the last day, because some of their pieces do not arrive in Madrid until Thursday and the injury of Herrera and the positive of Luis Suárez with Uruguay have already been confirmed. And some of those who have stayed in Spain rush to recover from their injuries, cases of Carrasco, who already trains with his teammates, Diego Costa and Vitolo. “I need you all plugged in”Cholo often repeats, aware that calendar squeezes demand physical freshness in players that is difficult to maintain if the squad is short of cash due to injuries. Simeone must rotate and for that he needs his healthy footballers.

Essential: the eighth of the Champions League

Because after Atleti-Barça they will come three weeks with a Champions League match and a League match in each one. In European competition, the three that are missing, in this order: Lokomotiv, Bayern and Salzburg, the first two at home and the last in Austria. The team is well on its way to the last 16, but a mistake against the Russians would complicate the goal a lot. The rojiblancos could play it in the Red Bull Arena, after a marathon of games without respite.

And if in the Champions League Atleti is prohibited from accidents, in the League they will also demand the best. After facing Barça, Atleti travels to Mestalla, where eight days ago Madrid took four goals, then receive Valladolid and, to close this autumnal queen stage, visit Valdebebas, December 12th or 13th. For later the Cup will come (This Monday he will meet his rival), where a year ago he had a roll. By then, Atlético will have passed a few level tests from which they can be thrown or touched in the spirit. It will be 22 days for confirmation …