Matchday 28
Despite their numerous casualties and the proximity of their visit to Old Trafford, Atlético is forced to add their fourth consecutive victory to consolidate themselves in the Champions zone
After chaining three consecutive league victories and recovering the Champions zone with a two-point advantage over Betis, Atlético hosts Cádiz in one of those cheating games that generate mistrust among the mattress makers. The next Champions League match at Old Trafford is distracting and casualties accumulate, but, in order not to repeat mistakes, the cholista army must keep in mind the recent memory of the defeat against Levante that definitely set off the alarms in the noble zone of the Metropolitan.
The colchoneros are holding on to their best moment of the course, which coincides with the recovery for the cause of Joao Félix, author of four goals in the last four games. Against the yellows he will be accompanied at the top by Griezmann, who returns to the starting lineup after 15 games. The Frenchman was already seen much better at the Benito Villamarín, with more spark and less fear of a new relapse of the post-traumatic muscle injury caused by a hard entry by Carvajal in the derby on December 12.
Without Correa, injured, and with Luis Suárez on the bench in recent days, the Little Prince must be a key player. In total, seven casualties: the defenders Mario Hermoso, Wrsaljko and Wass, the midfielders Kondogbia and Lemar and the forwards Correa and Cunha. Savic return to the eleven, after serving a suspension and overcoming a slight muscular overload, and Koke, whose absence due to injury in three games coincided, paradoxically, with Atlético’s best moment.
In theory, the duel of the Wanda is not of the dramatic League for the permanence of Cádiz, but that resounding triumph of the Levante in the rojiblanco feud raises the morale of Sergio González’s troops. Since the arrival of the Catalan coach to replace Álvaro Cervera, the yellow team has only lost one of their seven league games and is now just one point behind Granada, the first team in the safety zone.
Cádiz arrives reinforced by that key victory against Rayo (2-0), their first victory of the course at the Nuevo Mirandilla. Against the franjirrojos, Sergio returned to the classic 4-4-2 system and failed experiments with three central defenders. The winger Iván Alejo was dropped, sanctioned for accumulating warnings and replaced by Perea or Rubén Sobrino. Chilean midfielder Alarcón, winger Salvi and Romanian striker Florin Andone were also dropped due to injury.
Likely lineups
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Atletico:
Oblak, Llorente, Savic, Giménez, Reinildo, Carrasco, Koke, Herrera, De Paul, Griezmann, Joao Félix. -
Cádiz:
Ledesma, Akapo, Hernández, Chust, Espino, San Emeterio, Alcaraz, Perea or Sobrino, Idrissi, Lozano and Negredo. -
Referee:
González Fuertes (C. Asturiano). -
Hour:
21:00 h. Wanda Metropolitano. -
TV:
Movistar LaLiga.
