Atlético will jump against Manchester City with an obligation: that of executing the second part of his plan, of this match designed at 180′ that in Manchester was a nail-biter, two lines of five men plus five men with one intention: receive the least possible blow, face the second leg of the quarterfinals of this Champions still alive. And it turned out. City, a team with an average of three goals per game, only finished twice on goal, only scoring one goal (De Bruyne, assisted by Foden).
Cholo Simeone will have two important absences. That of two players for whom he has been waiting for ten days: Héctor Herrera and José María Giménez, both injured when they returned from the break and both have become key pieces. The second of always, is solidity, the Commander of the defense. The first because if he started the season living on the bench (he was the 21st player in minutes for the Argentine) because his inclusion in the eleven in the second round match against Osasuna was what started LaLiga 14. All order and rigor, key. But none arrive. They wanted to force but it would have been aggravating their ailments.
doubts and certainties
In his alignment there are two doubts and several certainties. The doubts are who will occupy the left lane, or Lodi or Carrasco, who returns, has already served his sanction and who will accompany in the center of the field to Koke of Kondogbia, De Paul or Lemar. The certainties that Llorente returns to the right lane and that the lead is clear: that name Joãomann, a forward with four legs, all talent, those of Griezmann and João Félix. The day came to execute the second part of the plan.