Atletico Madrid will look to consolidate their place in the top three in the game vs Girona in La Liga on Monday night.
Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their last six league games, and they will be firm favourites heading into this contest vs Girona on Monday might.
Meanwhile, Girona are 12th in the league table, and they have lost three of their last six La Liga outings. The home side come into this game on the back of a defeat against Getafe and will have to improve immensely to grind out a home when here.
Diego Simeone’s men managed to pick up a narrow 2-1 win in the reverse fixture at home earlier in the season. And Atletico Madrid will be hoping for a similar result here vs Girona on Monday.
The visitors cannot afford to drop points here, especially with Real Sociedad and Real Betis breathing down their necks. Atletico Madrid will have to secure UEFA Champions League qualification. And these are games they will need to win to stay ahead of their rivals.
Full focus on Monday's match! 💪 pic.twitter.com/0rzGd5rLP6
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 9, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Girona
The home side will be without the services of Ibrahima Kebe, Yan Couto, Yangel Herrera and Alexander Callens. Kebe is ruled out with a knee injury, while Couto is struggling with an ankle problem. Herrera and Callens are ruled out with muscle problems.
Girona are likely to line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Paulo Gazzaniga in goal. Arnau Martinez, a target for Atletico Madrid, and Juanpe are likely to be deployed as the full-backs, with Santiago Bueno and Bernardo Espinosa lining up as the central defenders. The home side will be looking to sit deep and hit Atletico Madrid on the counter here.
Meanwhile, Oriol Romeu will be deployed as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to win the ball back for his side and protect the central defenders. Viktor Tsygankov and Rodrigo Riquelme will start as the wingers here. The duo will look to add pace and creativity from the flanks.
Aleix Garcia will partner with Borja Garcia in the middle of the park, and the duo will look to add creativity and control to the side. Valentin Castellanos will lead the line for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Gazzaniga; Martinez, Bueno, Espinosa, Juanpe; Romeu; Tsygankov, Aleix Garcia, Borja Garcia, Riquelme; Castellanos
Atletico Madrid
The visitors will be without the services of Reinildo Ma, who is ruled out of the season with a knee injury. Diego Simeone will start in a 3-5-2 formation, with Jan Oblak in goal.
😍 The visit we were most looking forward to!
🇲🇿 Reinildo came to watch today’s training session where his teammates gave him all their support as he recovers from his injury.
❤️ Stay strong, 'Rei'! pic.twitter.com/JGz9mYA2dy
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 10, 2023
In the back three, Mario Hermoso will start alongside Stefan Savic and Jose Gimenez. Nahuel Molina and Yannick Carrasco are likely to be deployed as the wing-backs, and the two players will look to double down and help out defensively as well as in the final third.
Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios and Koke will start in the middle of the park. While Barrios will look to break down the play, the likes of Llorente and Koke will add creativity and drive to the side. Antoine Griezmann will lead the line alongside Memphis Depay.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Hermoso, Savic, Gimenez; Molina, Llorente, Barrios, Koke, Carrasco; Griezmann, Depay
Key Stats
- Girona have drawn their last three home matches against Atletico Madrid in all competitions.
- Atletico Madrid are undefeated in their last eight La Liga matches La Liga.
- Girona have conceded at least two goals in their last four matches in La Liga.
- Atletico Madrid have enjoyed playing away from home recently and are currently unbeaten in four matches.
- Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in the last five matches against Girona. They have scored ten goals in those five games.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
🎙 ❝We need the three points and we will do our best to get the win❞.
— @AntoGriezmann, #JugadorCincoEstrellas of February in @futbolmahou 🏆 pic.twitter.com/z7w3vAjo98
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 11, 2023
The Frenchman is in fine form right now, and he has scored twice and picked up two assists in his last three appearances. Griezmann has been exceptional against Athletic Club, Real Madrid and Sevilla in his last three outings.
The experienced attacker will be hoping to make his mark against a vulnerable Girona side as well. The 31-year-old could cause all sorts of problems with his creative and goalscoring abilities here on Monday.
Prediction
Girona 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are undoubtedly the better team here and should be able to grind out a narrow victory away from home vs Girona. The hosts have been quite inconsistent, and they are lacking in confidence and momentum right now.
The home side are likely to put up a fight here, but the gulf in quality between the two sides is quite distinct. And The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Atletico Madrid.