Saúl, return to the title before the immense loss of Koke

Atlético faces the match in Ipurua with low capital in Simeone's scheme. El Cholo faces again Trippier's loss to sanction, after FIFA has withdrawn the precautionary statement, a very important loss in the right lane and for which the TAS will be used to try to remedy his absence for the next two months. He will not have beautiful either, his departure of the ball from behind and that he did not arrive in time due to a sprained ankle suffered against Sevilla or Herrera, who already had a couple of sessions with the group but still does not have a medical discharge after his muscle injury in the derby against Real Madrid.

But also, Atlético will not be able to count on Koke, probably the most essential footballer to balance the team. Now as a pivot, the captain is in charge of giving the rhythm to Simeone's team, to prevent it from breaking and to command and order the pressure line. Further from the area he is seen less in the last pass and on arrival, but it fulfills a basic function and an invaluable dark job. Koke has been playing in the middle all season and so far he had not missed any league commitments.

Cholo will have to make up for the absence of his most trusted man, the only player he has lived with since the day he arrived at Atlético. And to do so, he will do it with another of his classics, Saúl Ñíguez. The canterano chains six consecutive league games off the bench, something that was not seen since he took a place in the first team. The man from Elche goes through a bad moment of play and a difficult mental period. However, he will return to the eleven after the great reinforcement that his goal meant for sentence the match against Sevilla.

With characteristics very different from those of Koke, Saúl aims to be in charge of being in the pivot position, with Llorente collaborating in defensive tasks and freeing himself in attack. A Saúl who stands out more in the physical section, but who has more difficulties to distribute the ball. Something that can increase the relevance of Lemar in the game. The Frenchman, now playing on the inside, is at the moment of greatest regularity as an athletic man and will also have to take a step forward to channel the rojiblancos attacks.

Eibar may be an opportunity for Saúl to find his best version, the one that has been so important for Atlético year after year. The '8' has to recover feelings, because no one doubts that it will end up being a key piece again. “Work pays”, concluded Saúl and Simeone after the midfielder's goal against Sevilla. Better or worse, the youth squad has never given up or stopped emptying himself in training. They both want Ipurua to be the ideal setting to continue their upline.