Atlético is at a time of the season where setbacks have been concentrated until adding three punctures in the last four league games. A draw against Celta and some new tables and defeat in the double confrontation against Levante, something that has tightened the competition.
Cases of coronavirus, sanctions, injuries, accumulation of minutes, errors behind that have cost seven games in a row fitting in … have made a dent in a team that must get up as soon as possible. No time for regrets as the calendar gets even tighter. Curves come to Atlético and a good part of the team's options in the two competitions that is still alive will depend on its resolution. On Tuesday the Champions returns in the first leg of the round of 16 against Chelsea. And in this unusual season, Atlético will practice at home … in Bucharest. A trip that implies more flight hours for the rojiblancos than for the English, but whose result is applied the same as if it had happened in the Metropolitan Wanda.
Five days later, on Sunday, LaLiga returns to Villarreal, a fiefdom that has always is a huge complication for Simeone's. El Cholo has added two wins 0-1 at the yellow submarine stadium, by three draws and three defeats. In the first leg, Villarreal already took a point from Wanda Metropolitano and is one of the teams that put Atlético the most difficulties. Those of Unai Emery will also have a weekly European commitment, in their case of the Europa League against Salzburg.
And, after a week without matches, derby against Real Madrid arrives. The first in which Simeone will be able to get Trippier back once his sanction expires. For his part Suárez is warned, so in the case of seeing a yellow against Villarreal he will not be against the maximum rival and currently the first pursuer. All of this before recover the pending match against Athletic (March 10), visit Getafe and play the second leg against Chelsea. The calendar does not give a break and Atlético has to recover sensations as soon as possible. He reaches the Champions League touched, but he also has positive news despite the poor results against Levante.
Herrera will be the last to leave the infirmary among the six cases of coronavirus reported in recent weeks. Carrasco, with physical problems, Hermoso, João Félix, Lemar and Dembélé have already returned to play after contracting the disease. Trippier has two games left to return and Savic and Saúl have served their sanction in the League. “The objective is very important, but the route is even more important. And to get there, there are stations, obstacles, luck, bad luck, good game, bad game, and that's what you have to go through to reach the goal.. We are on that path where we will have obstacles that must be carried forward in the best way. “They were the impressions of Simeone, who knows that the team has to recover morale, defensive solvency and the sensations that it had throughout the season until this last pothole. With no room to give up, Atlético know they have to recover from a very complicated schedule.