Atlético needs to forget their doubts in time
Those of Simeone, eliminated from the ‘Champions’, depend on themselves to be in the sixteenth of the Europa League
MADRID, 31 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid visits Porto this Tuesday (6:45 p.m.) on the last day of the Champions League group stage, with the need to win to confirm its presence in the Europa League and with its depressive state as a great rival, while the Portuguese, already qualified for the crosses, play for first place in the group.
The rojiblancos were not up to the task in the first, and finally final, match point to continue their journey in the Champions League. Everything seemed to be upside down: the rival, a priori, of a lower level and at a bad time, and with the Metropolitano pushing. However, the mattresses did not achieve victory – they tied (2-2) against Bayer Leverkusen – which would allow them to prolong the options of advancing to the second round.
A blow, also economically, for the project, already weakened in recent months, of Simeone at Atleti. A hard and agonizing blow with a penalty missed in the last second, which left the squad very touched and which continued this weekend with the defeat (3-2), also when the game was already dying out, at the Nuevo Mirandilla , with Cádiz delving into the ever-growing wound of the rojiblancos.
And the most worrying thing is the absence of the identity that has characterized this group in recent seasons. There is a lack of attitude, character, effort and commitment, in a team that is weaker defensively and without clarity in the offensive phase. And Simeone is aware that the successes of this team only go through recovering the essence and rebuilding what is intrinsic to the rojiblanco club under the command of the Argentine in the last 11 years.
The data endorse this identity crisis with many doubts and uncertainty surrounding Atlético. In the Champions League, the colchoneros have only scored 4 goals, while they have conceded 7 in these five games. In addition, this season their performance as a visitor in Europe is very poor, with two defeats in two games and zero goals scored. Nor does the statistics improve in the domestic competition, third, nine points behind the lead and with 12 goals against, the second worst record in the League of the top eight.
Nor will it accompany the physical state of the squad, with numerous and sensitive casualties to travel to Porto to complete the European company, a minor prize after their elimination from the Champions League. The defeat in Cádiz left Kondogia and Reinildo -the Mozanbican is the player with the most minutes (1,502) in his legs- touched, although his presence in Portugal is not in danger, given the importance of the match.
The midfielders Koke and Lemar are ruled out, while Álvaro Morata, who retired at the start of the duel against the Cadiz, entered the list, although he does not seem to point to the eleven. Given these absences, it seems that Giménez and Savic will repeat in the center of the defense, with a Reguilón waiting his turn on the left. Marcos Llorente is still not ready, so De Paul would be the companion of Witsel and Kondogbia, touched. In attack, they will form Griezmann, Carrasco and Joao Félix in tune after his brace in the last leg of the duel at the Nuevo Mirandilla.
While Atlético de Madrid needs the same score as Leverkusen against Club Brugge to be a Europa League team, Porto is also at stake for the top spot in the group. If the Portuguese, second with 9 points, one less than the Belgians, beat the rojiblancos at home, and Bruges do not do so against the Germans, they will be first, so they are not three trivial points for the Portuguese.
However, the balance is positive for the people of Madrid, who won the last two visits to O Dragao (1-3 and 1-2). And it is that Porto has not beaten Atleti at home since 2009 (2-0). With history against them, those from the north of Portugal cling to their positive dynamics in Europe, with three consecutive wins that allowed them to reverse their bad and irregular start.
The 0-4 against Bruges was the best remedy for Porto after the heavy defeat (0-1) against Benfica in the League, although their recent draw (1-1) against Santa Clara dropped them from the fight for leadership, now to eight points. For this reason, Sérgio Conceiçao’s men see their great illusion in the Champions League and will not leave anything to chance, especially considering how the rojiblancos already beat them on the first day -the only rojiblanco victory- with a goal from Griezmann in the last sigh.
“We have to be prepared. The most important thing is always our team and what we are going to do,” he analyzed, after advancing “nuances” in the lineup due to casualties, mainly in defense. Marcano will return to the squad, while Pepe and Verón will presumably miss out due to injury, in addition to the absence of Carmo, who has been suspended. DATA SHEET.
PORT: Diogo Costa; Pepe, Fabio Cardoso, Marcano, Zaidu; Bruno Costa, Eustaquio, Otavio, Galeno; Taremi and Evanilson.
MADRID ATHLETIC: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Gimenez, Reinildo; De Paul, Witsel, Kondogbia, Carrasco; Joao Felix and Griezmann.
–ÁRBITRO: Daniele Orsato (Ita).
–STADIO: The Dragon.
–TIME: 18:45 (Movistar Champions League 2).
