Atlético de Madrid held its last training session this morning before hosting Athletic Club tomorrow in a new LaLiga fixture. The colchonero team will arrive at this match with less rest time than its rival, as they played against Barça in Montjuïc last Tuesday. At this point in the season, with so many matches in such a short time, the need to see the less regular players is undeniable.
Therefore, according to the last practice held today, everything indicates that Simeone will make several changes in his line-up to try to achieve victory against the Basque team. It is important to note that on Tuesday they will visit Santiago Bernabéu to face the first match against Real Madrid in the Champions League. It will surely be the decisive moment of the year to know if the rojiblancos can end up achieving any of the titles.
Simeone Plans to Make Several Changes
Athletic Club was the first team last season to defeat Atlético de Madrid at the Metropolitano, coinciding with the Copa del Rey. Both clubs remain in the fight in the league championship, although the Bilbao team is somewhat further from reaching the top of the standings. After the tough battle against FC Barcelona, everything indicates that Simeonewill bring in some of the less regular names to have a fresher team.
Jan Oblak will return to the goal, while Robin Le Normand will pair with Clement Lenglet in the center of defense with Javi Galán on the left wing. Rodrigo de Paul will also rest, with the double pivot formed by Pablo Barrios and Marcos Llorente, starting on the left with Samu Lino. The other big change will be in the forward line, as Julián Alvarez will rest and leave his spot to Alexander Sorloth as the attacking reference.
Golden Opportunity to Earn a Spot
It is a match that can surely mark a turning point for some footballers, as they will have the opportunity to prove they deserve more minutes. A perfect example is Alexander Sorloth, who has become one of the heroes of the season after scoring numerous goals when coming off the bench. The Norwegian secured the draw for Atlético de Madrid in injury time against Barça and wants to take advantage of a possible starting position to further convince Simeone.
Pablo Barrios also needs to show his best version, as he was criticized in the first half in Montjuïc, although he improved considerably after the break. His two expulsions in a short time put him in the spotlight, although Simeone has wanted to show him all his confidence. Tomorrow he will join Marcos Llorente, and both must demonstrate that the midfield works despite the absence of Rodrigo de Paul.