Half Athletic, half Madrid – AS.com

The first Madrid-Athletic was postponed due to a pre-World Cup qualifying in South America that was going to prevent Vinicius, Militao and Valverde from playing at the Bernabéu on the scheduled date. Today, between infected with COVID and injured, Madrid plays in San Mamés with eleven casualties and Athletic, with eight. There remains, then, a disfigured match, notably different from the one that faced both 22 days ago, but which will fill San Mamés (follow the meeting live on As.com).

The rojiblanca fans need little to get excited. Iñaki Williams had spent almost two years without signing a double in La Liga and did it on Sunday against Betis. De Marcos had been dry for eleven months and scored the winning goal. Athletic had not come back a game all season and was able to do so in a duel against a Champions League team. And the fans suddenly forgot the eight consecutive games without winning (five draws and three defeats) and He recalled that three weeks ago his team was ready and deserved to score at the Bernabéu. He shot almost twice as many times as Madrid to go blank, a recurring calamity this season.

Without internationals

Athletic’s casualties are notable. COVID has taken its two internationals, Unai Simón and Íñigo Martínez, off track, and it has further weakened the rear of the team, which was already missing Vivian, injured almost two months ago in Cornellà. Berenguer is also a victim of the pandemic. What’s more, Yeray Álvarez played very weakened against Betis. However, today it will be together with the other available center, Unai Núñez. In return, Dani García returns, one of Marcelino’s permanent fixtures.

And it is that the Asturian, like Ancelotti, handles a reduced circle of essentials. Eight players exceed 1,200 minutes and others have played exaggeratedly little. The team revolves around Muniain, whose records are very close to the best of his career. At the age of 29, he has never been more influential in a team of marked austerity: he scores little (16 goals) and concedes little (14). And with this he manages to have the European squares within reach.

Madrid is more diminished. Alaba and Isco found out last night their positive for COVID. Before, Ancelotti had already lost Lunin, Marcelo, Modric, Asensio, Rodrygo and Bale for the same reason. Neither will Ceballos and Carvajal be due to physical problems and Casemiro due to a penalty.

Valverde and Camavinga

Five of Ancelotti’s almost fixed eleven have disappeared, half of the team. And all lines are affected. The most, the center of the field. Modric, Casemiro and Kroos, the multi-champion trinity, could not meet in an eleven until after two months of competition, mainly due to the pubalgia that affected the German. Since then they have coincided in eleven games. They were all won by Madrid. He scored 28 goals and conceded five. Some data that justify that Ancelotti boasts of having the best midfield in the world. Today only Kroos will be there, accompanied by Valverde and Camavinga, two puppies. The team will win in force, but will lose in ball out and draw in an intimidating scenario. The Frenchman has only started five times this season. Madrid’s only two defeats this season have come with both in the starting eleven.

Modric has shown himself to be the best weapon for close matches, those that Madrid digests the worst. Without him, the team has yielded draws against Levante, Osasuna and Cádiz. Neither is it easy to replace Casemiro, a player without a spare. Apart from Camavinga, Ancelotti will also introduce Nacho and repeat with Hazard.

Madrid has been six consecutive games without falling in San Mamés (four wins and two draws). The last time he did it, Ancelotti was on the bench. In any case, on the side of recent history, Athletic finds no hope: two wins in the last 17 games.