Atlético faces a short-term future without Luis Suárez, his forward and the team's top scorer with 19 goals in the league. The Uruguayan He only needed 26 games and 35 shots on goal to prove his effectiveness, but a muscle injury will have him off the pitch in the coming weeks, and he could lose up to four games.
Suarez was a safe loss for the match against Betis, since last Sunday he saw his fifth yellow in the League against Sevilla. But, a muscle injury in training on Wednesday, It will force him to stop longer than expected and opens a huge gap in the team in the fight for the title. The absence of the tip forces Simeone to prepare a plan B, a plan C, a plan D and even a plan E without the only center forward who has worked throughout the course.
The initial idea of the season happened because that plan B was Diego Costa. His alternative and possible forward partner after overcoming the coronavirus during the start of the short rojiblanca preseason. But the injuries returned to upset the Spanish-Brazilian, who requested to leave in December with the letter of freedom after having been able to play only seven league games, scoring two goals. In january would arrive Moussa Dembélé as a natural variant to Suárez, but between just recovering from an arm injury, his little involvement when available, the coronavirus, and later a faint in a workout They have kept him practically without playing since his arrival (42 minutes in the league). The medical body wants to be very cautious after the scare lived and dThe moment continues to exercise on the sidelines.
Without plan A or B, the natural players in the position (Saponjic left Cádiz in January after telling practically nothing), you have to open the fan. And against Betis there will be no plan C. Marcos Llorente, Simeone's wild card, is also sanctioned for accumulating cards (like Kondogbia) and will not be able to help the team try to get back on the winning track. Llorente is Atlético's second top scorer in the league and the top assistant (nine goals and eight goal passes), so his loss together with that of Suárez leaves the team without 56% of the goals. The most comfortable position for the ‘14’ is the indoor position with freedom of movement to throw off-marks from behind in attack and show his arrival. But he has also surrendered playing at the top. An option for the coming games without Suárez.
More imaginative options
But to visit Betis you have to look for a plan D. This seems to go through use João Félix with Correa as mobile references above. The Argentine has gotten used to participating on the right wing and the Portuguese suffers when he has to do it with his back to powerful centrals. But, during the matches in which Suárez was absent due to the coronavirus, you could see Correa acting like 'false 9', with a lot of mobility to fall to the midfielder and leave the rival defense with no one to fix. Apparently that will be the plan to try to overcome Betis, with João Félix behind to try to receive between the lines and create in the final meters of the attack.
Beyond Correa and João Félix, there are few variants in the first team. But the versatility of the rojiblanca squad always has an ace up its sleeve. Carrasco, now left lane, has already played for Simeone up, mainly to take advantage of his power in the race to the counterattack. Against dominant teams, The Belgian has stretched the team and has participated at the top in games like against Barcelona and could have minutes there against Betis. And, although yesterday he did not train with the group and has been with a residual participation for some time, Vitolo is another footballer trained to play with his back up and try to be a reference to get the team out.
Giuliano Simeone celebrates with Camello a goal from Atleti B.
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Two more options would come from the quarry. Sergio Camello, who already knows what it is to play and score with the first team (two seasons ago in his debut against Levante), he can lend a hand, although his numbers this season have not been good (three goals in 16 games). A debut that would be the least emotional would go through see Giuliano Simeone with the first team. The Argentine, son of Cholo, has grown a lot until he rose from the youth team and took a place in the eleven of Atleti B, scoring three goals in ten games and becoming the team's top scorer alongside Camello.
At 18, he stands out for his speed, passing game and intensity. But last Sunday he was not available against Socuéllamos. In addition, the second rojiblanco team is played a lot. He is on the edge of the gorge in the fight not to descend two categories, and losing your references above would complicate score on Sunday against Villarrubia, where Antonio Rivas debuts on the bench. Atlético B is having many problems in front of goal and needs to add three to avoid a bigger blow.