On Sunday night, Atlético de Madrid will have a very important match to play. After the draw at Villarreal , Diego Pablo Simeone 's team will seek to get their first win of the season, and start the season at the Metropolitano on a high note. To do so, they will have to defeat Míchel 's Girona , who also had to play last matchday away from Montilivi , getting a valuable draw at the Benito Villamarín against Betis .
In addition, it will be a direct clash between two of the favourites to reach high positions in LaLiga . And we must not forget that Girona put Atlético de Madrid in serious trouble last season. In fact, the Catalan side did what no one else managed during Simeone 's time: knock the Colchoneros out of the top three spots.
That is why the match, which will start at 9.30pm, is set to be one of the biggest spectacles of the day. Simeone has therefore been doing extensive work during the week to decide which players are the best to start. That is where Rodrigo Riquelme will come in, barring a surprise, and he will return to the starting line-up against one of the most special teams of his career and who, in addition, follow him closely.
Girona went through Riquelme
After a great season at Mirandés , Atlético de Madrid decided to loan Rodrigo Riquelme to Girona . The Catalans' great sporting project gave them confidence to send a player who had a lot of potential in his legs, and who needed to prove himself in the Spanish top flight. And they weren't wrong, as the Madrid native fit right into Míchel 's plans and left a great memory at Montilivi .
He played 35 games, where he created up to 9 goals, including 5 goals and 4 assists. He was also a different and unique player in the squad, making him one of the players to watch closely during the 22/23 season. He showed that he had the level to be a first division player and Atlético de Madrid did not hesitate to bring him back and keep him in the first team dynamic.
Once again, he proved his worth despite Samuel Lino having beaten him to the post for most of the season. With many things to improve, Rodrigo Riquelme was seen as a diamond that needed to be polished, but with a promising future. That is why many teams in Europe have been interested in his services, with Girona FC and AS Roma being the most interested.
The player has always shown his desire to succeed at Atlético Madrid , where he has grown up throughout his career. However, he keeps the door ajar whenever he talks about his future, arguing that "in football you never know what can happen." That is why today's match has special importance for Rodrigo Riquelme .
Not only will he be returning to the stadium where he has always wanted to play, defending the shirt of the club he loves, but he will also be reunited with many of his former teammates on the pitch. All of this, a priori, will be in the starting line-up, although we will have to wait until the last minute to find out Simeone 's final decision. Whatever the case, Rodrigo Riquelme will have a night ahead of him with a different flavour.