Bottom-placed Real Valladolid will look to end their winless run when they host third-placed Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid will be looking to make it seven wins in a row across competitions when they hit the road to square up against Real Valladolid at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium.
The home team have only accumulated nine points in their 14 outings with two wins, three draws and nine defeats. They are rock bottom and are three points behind the Las Palmas who are currently 17th on the table.
Valladolid have been winless in their last four league outings, losing three of those fixtures. They are heading into this one on the back of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Getafe. Given the kind of form they have been in, they will need a miracle to go past Simeone’s men.
The visitors are third in the league with 29 points in their 14 outings thanks to eight wins, five draws and a defeat. They have won their last six games across competitions and have been on a three-match winning streak in the league.
The Colchoneros won 6-0 against Sparta Praha in their last outing, and they will be quite confident about getting the job done against the worst team in the division. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News & Tactics
Real Valladolid
The home team will be without the services of Selim Amallah. Real Madrid do not have any fresh injury concerns, which means Pezzloano will have quite a few options to choose from against Atletico Madrid.
Real Valladolid will go ahead with the 5-4-1 formation, where Karl Hein will continue in goal. In the heart of the defence, Javi Sanchez will pair up with Abdulay Juma Bah and Cenk Ozkacar.
The back three will receive significant support from Luis Perez Maqueda and Lucas Rosa who will feature as wing-backs. In the centre of the park, Kike Perez will start alongside Mario Martin.
The duo will feature in a central role while Raul Moro and Anuar Tuhami will feature out wide on the flanks. Finally, Mamadou Sylla will be the one leading the line for the home team.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Hein; Perez, Bah, Javi Sanchez, Ozkacar, Rosa; Moro, Martin, Perez, Tuhami; Syllla
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone will be without the services of Nahuel Molina and Thomas Lemar. Meanwhile, Robin Le Normand’s availability is a major doubt. The visitors will make a few changes to the XI that started in their last outing. They will stick to the 4-4-2 formation, with Jan Oblak in goal.
Marcos Llorente and Javi Galan should be the full-backs, while Jose Maria Gimenez and Clement Lenglet should feature in the heart of the defence. Giuliano Simeone will continue on the right flank while Conor Gallagher will be on the right.
In the centre of the park, Koke will pair up with Pablo Barrios. The duo will look to control the tempo of the game. As for the attack, the French veteran star Antoine Griezmann will partner summer signing Julian Alvarez.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have the best defence in the league having conceded just eight goals in their 14 outings.
- Real Valladolid have lost each of their last five league games against the team from Madrid.
- Diego Simeone’s team have won each of their last six outings across competitions.
- Having conceded 27 goals in 14 outings, the White and Violets have the worst defensive record in La Liga.
- The home team have been winless in their last four league outings.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann might be 33, but he still remains the most important player in Diego Simeone’s team. The former Barcelona star is expected to return to the starting XI for this league game, and he could end up being the difference between the two teams. The former French international has six goals and six assists to his name, and he will be eager to add to it this weekend.
Prediction
Real Valladolid 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid have been on a run of late winning their last six games and given the kind of form Real Valladolid have been in, they are unlikely to stand in their way. The home team will find it difficult to compete with the star-studded team from Madrid. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 2-0 win for the away team.