La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid are all set to hit the road to square up against third-tier outfit Marbella in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.
Atletico Madrid will be eyeing a 13th straight win across competitions when they face Marbella who have never gone past the round of 32 in the Copa del Rey.
The home team are 12th in the Spanish third tier. They have been quite inconsistent but are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-1 win over Recreativo Huelva in their last outings.
They defeated Bergantinos FC in round 1 while they took down Burgos to set up this home clash against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. The visitors have been on a roll of late. They recently clinched the top spot in La Liga and have won each of their last 12 games across competitions.
Atletico Madrid clinched a 2-1 win over Barcelona in their last outing and given the kind of form they have been in, going past Marbella should not be that big a problem. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News & Tactics
Marbella
The home do not have any fresh injury concerns and they will field their strongest XI in hopes of taking down the best team in Spain on current form. Former Real Madrid star Jose Callejon is the biggest name in Marbella’s squad, and they will hope the 37-year-old delivers against Atletico.
They will go ahead with the 4-3-3 formation, where Alberto Lejárraga Rubio will be in goal. Luis Acosta and Genar Fornés Casasús will be the full-backs, while Aitor Puñal Rodríguez and Yacouba Diori Hamani Magagi will feature in central defence.
The back four will look to keep things tight at the back, and they will receive some significant support from the midfield three of Marcos Peña, Ryan Edwards and Marcos Olguín. In attack, Dorian Hanza and Callejon will provide the width while Ernest Ohemeng will lead the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Lejarraga; Acosta, Punal, Diori, Fornes; Olguin, Edwards, Pena; Callejon, Ohemeng, Hanza
Atletico Madrid
Jose Gimenez’s availability is a major doubt because of a muscular issue but apart from him, Diego Simeone has a fully-fit squad to choose from. The Argentine manager will make a few changes to his preferred XI. but he will stick to the 4-4-2 formation.
Juan Musso will be in goal for the visitors. Cesar Azpilicueta and Javi Galan will be the full-backs, while Axel Witsel and Robin Le Normand will feature in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Rodrigo De Paul and Koke will look to control the tempo, while Rodrigo Riquelme and Samuel Lino will feature out wide on the flanks. Alexander Sorloth should partner Angel Correa in the final third of the pitch.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Musso; Azpilicueta, Witsel, Le Normand, Galan; Riquelme, De Paul, Koke, Lino; Sorloth, Correa
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid and Marbella are all set to square up against each other for the third time.
- The two teams last squared up against each other in the Copa del Rey back in November 2009. The Rojiblancos won the two-legged tie 8-0.
- Atletico Madrid have won each of their last 12 outings and will be looking to make it 13 wins in a row across competitions.
- Marbella have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight games in all competitions.
- Diego Simeone’s team have only conceded 12 goals in La Liga this season (the best defensive record).
Player to Watch
Alexander Sorloth
Sorloth might not be the preferred option in the final third under Diego Simeone but he has still done a decent job. In just over 1,100 minutes of first-team action, the 29-year-old striker has eight goals and two assists. He is all set to have a great opportunity to add to his tally against Marbella on Saturday.
Prediction
Marbella 0-4 Ateltico Madrid
The visitors have been in red-hot form winning each of their last 12 games across competitions and they are out-and-out favourites for this fixture against Marbella. While the home team will try to script history by taking down Atletico Madrid and making it beyond the round of 32 for the first team, it looks very unlikely. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 4-0 win for the away team.
