Granada will mark their return to the Spanish top flight with a tough away fixture against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid are all set to host Granada on Matchday 1 of the La Liga 2023/24 season. Diego Simeone’s men were not at their best last season. They might have finished third but were never really in the title race and will look to work it in this time out. Meanwhile, Granada gained promotion on the back of a sensational season in the second division, and they will be eager to put their best foot forward.
Atletico Madrid have done some sensible business in the ongoing transfer window. They have bolstered their defence and will be looking to push for the league title this time around. The home team finished third last season and ended up 11 points behind champions Barcelona.
Diego Simeone’s men collected a total of 77 points in their 38 matches. They had the joint second-best attack in the league and the second-best defence. Despite being consistent throughout they did not really have enough in their tank to challenge for the title.
The home team featured in a total of four matches in the pre-season but could only come out on top in one of them. They are not in the best of form but should have enough to get over a promoted team. Meanwhile, Granada finished at the top of the second division with 75 points to their name.
They had the best attack in the division and ended up winning 22 out of their 42 matches. After an impressive campaign in the second division, they are now looking to survive in the Spanish top flight. The visitors were involved in a total of five pre-season friendlies and ended up winning four of those matches.
While they have an impressive pre-season record, they did not face opponents tough enough to give an idea of how prepared they are for their return to the top flight. Paco Lopez will still be confident of his chances against a strong opponent in their first fixture of the new season. They are expected to put up a strong fight against Atletico. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics that could be in use.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone will be without the services of Jose Gimenez and Reinildo, who are out injured. Meanwhile, Axel Witsel is suspended for this fixture against Granada.
While the Colchoneros had difficulties in registering new signings Caglar Soyuncu and Cesar Azpilicueta, they have managed to get it done just in time for the opening fixture, and the duo could make their debuts for the club.
🙋♂️ Que levante la mano quien también tenga ganas de que comience LaLiga 🙋 pic.twitter.com/xjwoM6bPmm
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) August 13, 2023
Diego Simeone is expected to go ahead with the tried and tested 3-5-2 formation where Jan Oblak will be in goal. Debutant Soyuncu will start alongside Stefan Savic and Mario Hermoso in defence.
Former Chelsea skipper Azpilicueta will start out wide on the right flank as the wing-back. Meanwhile, Yannick Carrasco will feature on the left flank. Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo De Paul and Koke will start in the centre of the park. Meanwhile, in attack, Antoine Griezmann should pair up with Memphis Depay. The duo did a great job last time out and will look to build on it this season.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Soyuncu, Savic, Hermoso; Azpilicueta, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Carrasco; Griezmann, Memphis
Granada
The visitors have not reported any injuries so far. As a result, Lopez is expected to enter this fixture will a fully-fit squad ready to take the La Liga by storm.
For another glory , tmw @Atleti 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/zqsZkuWZEI
— Granada CF 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇮🇪 (@GranadaCF_en) August 13, 2023
The Spanish manager is expected to go ahead with the 4-4-2 formation in this fixture. Andre Ferreira will start in goal for the recently promoted team. Ricard Sanchez and Carlos Neva will start out wide as the full-backs. They will have a tough task of keeping the opposition wing-backs quiet. Meanwhile, in the heart of the defence Miguel Rubio will pair up with Ignasi Miquel.
Oscar Melendo and Antonio Puertas will feature in wide roles in the centre of the park. They will have the support of Gerard Gumbau and Gonzalo Villar, who will be in a more central role. Myrto Uzuni will start as the right-sided forward for their fixture, and he will have the veteran Jose Callejon alongside him.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Ferreira; Sanchez, Rubio, Miquel, Neva; Melendo, Gumbau, Villar, Puertas; Uzuni, Callejon
Key Stats
Atletico Madrid have been unbeaten at home in their last 11 matches.- Granada have conceded in 15 out of their 16 away matches.
- The visitors have won three out of their four matches with a clean sheet to their name.
- Los Rojiblancos have won each of the last nine home games.
- Granada have won five out of their last ten away matches.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann was on fire last season. He was by far the best player for Diego Simeone’s team. The French international was the leader of their attack and he ended up deciding quite a few matches on his own. This time out, something similar is expected from the French forward.
Last season, he was involved in all 38 league matches and ended up contributing towards 32 goals. He found the back of the net on 15 occasions and also bagged 17 assists. The 32-year-old former Barcelona star is expected to be the biggest headache for Granada as they look to make a statement on their return to the Spanish top flight.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Granada
Atletico Madrid might not have had the best of pre-seasons, but they have a lot of quality in their squad to trouble Granada. They have strengthened their attack with quite a few additions and will surely be much for compact defensively.
Meanwhile, Granada had a great pre-season but this fixture against Simeone’s men will be their first real test. And, it could turn out to be a nightmare return to the Spanish top flight for them. There is a huge difference in quality between the two teams. As a result, The Hard Tackle predicts a dominating 3-0 win for the home team.
