14th-placed Deportivo Alaves will look to end their three-match losing streak when they host fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are all set to hit the road to square up against Deportivo Alaves in search of three points that will help them further strengthen their position in the top four.
Alaves are 14th on the points table with 32 points out of their 31 games. They are seven points clear of the drop zone and in order to maintain that, they will have to return to winning ways sooner rather than later.
The home team have lost four of their last five league games, and they are on a three-match losing streak. If things do not improve, they might end up getting involved in the relegation battle.
Alaves are heading into this one on the back of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Granada. Despite dominating the ball, they could not create enough chances to come out on top here. The home team will hope for a much better performance against Simeone’s men.
Meanwhile, the visitors are fourth on the points table with 61 points out of their 31 matches. They have a three-point advantage over fifth-placed Athletic Club with a game in hand, meaning a win here could see them go six points clear.
The season might not have gone according to plan for the Colchoneros. But this fixture could help them strengthen their position inside the top four. Atletico Madrid have won their last two league outings but are heading into this one on the back of a shocking 4-2 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
That defeat has knocked them out of Europe and they will be eager to return to winning ways. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Deportivo Alaves
The home team will be without the services of Adrian Rodriguez and Aleksandar Sedlar. There are no fresh injury concerns, and everyone else should be available for this outing.
Alaves are unlikely to make any major changes to the XI that started in their last outing. They will go ahead with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Antonio Sivera will take charge in goal. Andoni Gorosabel and Ruben Duarte will be the full-backs, while Nahuel Tenaglia will feature in the heart of the defence alongside Rafa Marin.
Antonio Blanco and Ander Guevara will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will look to shield the backline, while Abde Rebbach and Alex Sola will feature on the flanks. The duo will provide the width to their attacks. Meanwhile, Joaquin Panichelli will be the attacking midfielder behind striker Samu Omorodion, who is allowed to be involved in this fixture despite being on loan from Atletico Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sivera; Gorosabel, Tenaglia, Marin, Duarte; Guevara, Blanco; Rebbach, Panichelli, Sola; Omorodion
Atletico Madrid
The visitors will be without the services of Memphis Depay, Marcos Paulo, and Thomas Lemar. Meanwhile, Marcos Llorente is suspended following a milestone yellow card in their last outing.
Pablo Barrios is back available after missing their last league outing because of suspension. Diego Simeone is expected to make a few changes to the XI that started in their Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
Atletico Madrid will stick to the 3-5-2 formation, where Jan Oblak will take charge in goal. In the heart of the defence, Axel Witsel will start alongside Jose Maria Gimenez and Mario Hermoso. The back three will look for a clean sheet, and they will have the support of Nahuel Molina and Samuel Lino, who will feature as the wing-backs.
Pablo Barrios will slot into the midfield alongside Koke and Rodrigo De Paul. The trio will look to ensure they control the tempo of the game and have the majority of the ball. In attack, Antoine Griezmann will lead the line alongside Angel Correa.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso; Molina, Barrios, Koke, De Paul, Lino; Correa, Griezmann
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have won 11 out of the last 19 matches against Deportivo Alaves, who have only recorded four wins.
- Deportivo Alaves have won only one out of their last 15 La Liga games against Atletico Madrid.
- Diego Simeone’s team have lost four out of their last seven away matches against teams from the Basque country.
- The home team have lost each of their last three league games.
- Atletico Madrid have lost seven out of their 15 away games in the league this season.
Player to Watch
Angel Correa
The 29-year-old Argentine international might not have been a regular first-team player for Diego Simeone’s team this season. But he has surely had a huge impact in the limited game time he has had.
Correa has been used as a striker or a second striker on the majority of the occasions this season. He has featured in 40 matches and has contributed towards 13 goals in just over 1,500 minutes of first-team football. The World Cup winner is expected to start tomorrow and will look to add to his tally.
Prediction
Deportivo Alaves 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid might be heading into this one on the back of a disappointing defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. But they are still favourites to come out on top here. They will look to use the disappointment from their last outing as a motivation.
Meanwhile, the home team have lost each of their last three league games and their form suggests they will find it difficult against one of the best teams in the division. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the visitors.
