Relegation-threatened Granada are all set to host fifth-placed Atletico Madrid in search of their third win of the season.
After knocking Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, Atletico Madrid are all set to hit the road to square up against Granada. The home team have not been at their best since the start of the season and if they do not get their act together quickly, they will not be able to survive in the top flight. Meanwhile, the visitors will try to earn all three points and remain in the title race.
Granada are currently 19th on the points table, with just 11 points out of their 20 matches. They have already suffered 13 losses this season and have only won twice. They are five points away from safety, and if things do not improve the difference surely will increase.
The home team are heading into this fixture on the back of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real Betis. Post their win over Cadiz, a lot was expected from Granada. But they could not deliver and did not really deserve to get any points against Real Betis. But, they will be hoping for rock solid performance against one of the Spanish giants.
Atletico Madrid are currently fifth in the points table with 38 points out of their 19 matches. They have already suffered five losses, and it has hurt their chances of winning the league title. They are 11 points behind league leaders Girona. While they do have a game in hand, even if they win it, they would still be eight points behind.
The visitors need to get on a winning streak if they want to have a chance of fighting for the title right until the end of the season. But, their 4-2 win over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 will surely give them the belief that they can do it.
Both teams are desperate for a win for different reasons, and it sure promises to be a thrilling encounter. Meanwhile, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the two teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Granada
The home team will be without the services of Raul Fernandez. Meanwhile, Martin Hongla is serving a suspension. The good news is Ricard Sanchez is back from his ban and will return to the starting XI.
Granada will go ahead with the 4-4-2 formation, where Augusto Batalla will be in goal. Sanchez and Carlos Neva will be the two full-backs. While they would love to join the attack, the duo will spend the majority of the time helping out their centre-backs, Ignasi Miquel and Kamil Piatkowski.
Bryan Zaragoza and Jose Callejon will feature out wide in the centre of the park. They will look to help out the full-backs and also provide width to their attacks. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Villar will start alongside Sergio Ruiz in a more central role. As far as the attack is concerned, Lucas Boye will feature alongside Myrto Uzuni in the strike partnership.
Atletico Madrid
The visitors will be without the services of Thomas Lemar and Cesar Azpilicueta due to their respective injuries. Meanwhile, Reinildo Mandava is also unavailable because he is on international duty.
Diego Simeone will stick to the 3-5-2 formation, where Jan Oblak will be in goal. As far as the defence is concerned, Axel Witsel, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Mario Hermoso will be the back three. They will have the support of the wing-backs, Nahuel Molina and Samuel Lino.
The duo will prioritise helping the centre-backs, but they will also be seen way up the pitch contributing to the attacking side of things. In the centre of the park, Rodrigo De Paul will feature alongside Koke and Saul Niguez. They will look to control the tempo and ensure they dominate the ball. In attack, Spain captain Alvaro Morata will start alongside Antoine Griezmann.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Saul, Lino; Morata, Griezmann
Key Stats
- Granada’s record at home is the fourth-worst in the league, but ten out of their 11 points have come at home.
- The visitors have only won three out of their nine away matches in the league this season.
- The reverse fixture at the Civitas Metropolitano ended in favour of Atletico Madrid (3-1).
- Last time when Granada hosted Atletico Madrid in La Liga, they managed to win 2-1 back in December 2021.
- Diego Simeone’s men have the third-best attack in the division with 39 goals in 19 outings.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is amongst the very best to have ever played for Atletico Madrid. The French international has been a consistent performer for Diego Simeone’s team, and he would hope the French forward delivers yet again and helps them stay in the race for the league title.
The 32-year-old has featured in 28 matches so far this season and he has managed to contribute towards 22 goals. Greizmann has already found the back of the net 18 times this season. He has been scoring goals for fun, and it won’t be a surprise if he does it again against Granada.
Prediction
Granada 0-3 Atletico Madrid
The visitors are poised to capitalise on their recent Copa del Rey triumph over Real Madrid. Granada, languishing in 19th place, face a daunting challenge as they seek their third win of the season.
Atletico Madrid have a power-packed squad and they can surely take down a team like Granada who is finding it hard to stabilise themselves in the Spanish top flight. While they would give it their all, the home team might not have enough gas in their tank. As a result, The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for the visitors.
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