Bordalás hopes to recover Maxi Gómez for the duel against Atlético. The Uruguayan, who missed the last two games through injury, is going through a goal gap at 24 years of age. So far in 2021, the Uruguayan has only seen the door with Valencia four times. His version is far from the one that captivated Simeone and that made him be in the last winter market and in summer among the rojiblancos objectives.
Maxi is not finding his nose in Valencia. He has 18 goals in 83 games as a black and white (plus 10 assists). Nothing to do with his 31 goals in 75 games with Celta or 29 in 52 games with Defensor de Uruguay. So far this season, with Bordalás, Maxi has only added one goal in 9 games and his average number of goals per shot is 0.13 (only 8 shots, two between sticks).
Maxi Gómez was on Berta’s agenda when Diego Costa left and also in summer when Griezmann was the priority and Rafa Mir, another alternative. Finally Maxi stayed in Valencia and Bordalás has placed his trust in him. Maxi has started the 9 games in which he has been at the disposal of the Alicante coach, participating in 75% of the minutes. In fact, he finished 6 of the 9 games despite his little imbalance in the offensive game, where his influence, which exists, is limited to his fight with the defenders and the opening of second plays.
Maxi, in fact, is the second player who receives the most fouls (22, which places him in the Top-10 of the League) and he has committed 18 (he only surpasses him in Valencia Guillamón). Maxi has starred in 113 duels (55 melee and 58 aerial), winning 51%, and his defensive work is confirmed with 19 recoveries and six clearances.