Cacereno are all set to host Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the second round of Copa del Rey at the Principe Felipe on Thursday.
Atletico Madrid will be looking to secure a spot in the third round of the Copa del Rey when they hit the road to face fourth-division outfit Cacereno at the Principe Felipe on Thursday evening.
The home team have made it to the second round thanks to a 2-1 win over Gimnastica Segoviana towards the end of October. While they will be aiming to script a massive upset, taking down Simeone’s team won’t be easy by any means.
The visitors defeated Unio Esportiva Vic 2-0 in the first round thanks to a Julian Alvarez brace. They will be confident of getting the job done against a team that does not really come close to them in terms of quality.
Atletico Madrid have been on a seven-match winning streak across competitions, and they should make it eight in a row without much trouble. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News & Tactics
Cacereno
The home team do not have any fresh injury concerns, and they should have a fully fit squad for this fixture. Cacereno will most likely lineup in a 4-3-3 formation, where Izan Alfonso Rodriguez Grinonn will be in goal.
The back four will consist of Antonio Francisco Navas Vargas, Javier Barrio, Adrian Crespo Sanchez and Jose Ramon de Diego Martin. Navas and Martin will be on the flanks, with Barrio and Sanchez in the heart of the defence.
Alvaro Clausi will take up the holding role in midfield, while Deco and Jose Miguel Bernal Ortiz should be in his support. The trio will look to ensure the team from Madrid do not end up dominating the ball too deep in their half.
Francisco Javier Vinuela Campos and Marcos Carrillo Gimenez will provide the much-needed width to their attacks, while Salinas will be leading the line for them.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Griñón, Navas, Barrio, Sanchez, Martin; Deco, Clausi, Ortiz; Campos, Salinas, Gimenez
Atletico Madrid
The visitors will be without the services of Thomas Lemar and Borja Garces. Diego Simeone will make wholesale changes to his team for this fixture, although it could mark the return of Robin Le Normand.
The Spanish international has been on the sidelines since suffering a traumatic brain injury in the Madrid derby. Le Normand is back fit and could be handed a start in this fixture.
Simeone will stick to the 4-4-2 formation, with Juan Musso in goal for this cup fixture. Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino should be the full-backs, with Axel Witsel and Cesar Azpilicueta in central defence.
Giuliano Simeone should feature out wide on the right flank, while Rodrigo Riquelme will take charge on the left. Rodrigo De Paul and Conor Gallagher could play more central roles. In attack, Alexander Sorloth could start alongside Angel Correa. Julian Alvarez might have a cameo off the bench, while Antoine Griezmann will most likely be rested for this one.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Muso; Llorente, Azpilicueta, Witsel, Lino; Simeone, De Paul, Gallagher, Riquelme; Sorloth, Correa
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have faced Cacereno a total of two times, and they remain unbeaten with a draw and a win.
- The last cup clash between the two teams was back in 1982 where Los Rojiblancos won 5-3 on aggregate.
- The home team have kept a clean sheet in two out of their last three games.
- The Colchoneros have the best defensive record in La Liga having conceded just eight goals so far.
- Diego Simeone’s team have won each of their last seven games heading into this fixture.
Player to Watch
Alexander Sorloth
Sorloth has not really had the best of starts to life at Atletico Madrid since making the move in the summer transfer window. He has six goals and two assists to his name so far in his 20 outings. The former Villarreal star has racked up just 930 minutes of first-team action so far. The 28-year-old is expected to start this one and he will be hoping to make a mark.
Prediction
Cacereno 0-5 Atletico Madrid
Cacereno will have a tough time going up against one of the Spanish giants. They will try to create an upset but it looks very unlikely. Given the kind of form Atletico Madrid have been in, they should ease past this fixture without much trouble. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 5-0 win for the away team.
