Atlético de Madrid visits one of the most challenging fields in LaLiga this Saturday at a time when they need to regain their good form. The red-and-whites will face Valencia at Mestalla just before playing the Copa del Rey semifinals against FC Barcelona in Montjuïc. Simeone will have two significant absences in the midfield, Pablo Barrios due to suspension and Koke due to injury, requiring a midfield reconstruction.
The only player with a guaranteed starting position is Rodrigo de Paul, but the main urgency is finding him a partner for the double pivot. In reality, Cholo only has two options to pair with the Argentine midfielder, but he seems to have made his decision for this new commitment. The Atlético team has only defeated RCD Mallorca and Osasuna in LaLiga in 2025, with three draws and one loss in the remaining matches.
Simeone Finds Rodrigo de Paul's Partner
The situation in the midfield is delicate ahead of the visit to Valencia, with two important absences and few options to complete the midfield. Koke and Pablo Barrios will not be available at Mestalla, forcing Simeone to find another partner to join Rodrigo de Paul. According to the latest trials, everything suggests that the chosen one will be Marcos Llorente, who knows this position very well from his early years in elite soccer.
The Spaniard already played in the engine room in the clash against Bayer Leverkusen, receiving all the praise from Simeone for his performance. "Llorente playing in the middle when he hasn't played in the middle for ages," the Argentine said, analyzing that comeback against the Germany champion. "Look, I've been telling him: 'I'm going to bring you back to play in the middle,'" he revealed about Marcos Llorente's role for the coming months.
Conor Gallagher, the Other Option
The English international is experiencing a rollercoaster in his first year at Atlético de Madrid, going from starting on the left wing to being surpassed by Samuel Lino. In some matches, he has played on the right wing and also more in the center of the field, a position he could return to this Saturday. However, it seems that Simeone has more confidence in Marcos Llorente to fill that open spot, although there are still several training sessions ahead.
Conor Gallagher has scored two goals so far, one of them precisely against Valencia in the first-leg match played at the Metropolitano (3-0). Simeone has always highlighted his physical ability and defensive strengths compared to Samuel Lino, which has led to them rotating in the starting eleven. Koke will be out for several weeks, opening the door for the former Chelsea player to have more prominence.