Atletico Madrid will be looking for their seventh straight win in all competitions when they host a struggling Real Oviedo side.
After a disappointing start to the season, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have finally hit top gear, and they will be looking to build on their dominant run when they square up against Real Oviedo at Estadio Metropolitano.
The home team have climbed up fourth on the points table with 28 points in their 13 outings, after a run of five straight wins in the league. They secured a 1-0 win over Getafe in their last league outing and have backed it up with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
While the Colchoneros had to depend on an injury-time strike by Jose Maria Gimenez to secure all three points against the Nerazzurri, they will be looking for a comfortable win over Real Oviedo on Saturday. Meanwhile, the visitors are bottom of the points table with just nine points in their 13 outings. They have only managed to secure two wins so far, and have been winless in their last six outings.
Oviedo last won a game towards the end of September, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano. While securing a draw after being reduced to ten men at the start of the second half can be seen as a big positive, going up against Atletico Madrid will certainly be an even tougher challenge. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
Robin Le Normand remains on the sidelines for this fixture, while Marcos Llorente and Jan Oblak are major doubts. Apart from the trio, everyone else should be available for selection.
Diego Simeone will stick to his go-to 4-4-2 formation, where Juan Musso could feature between the sticks. Nahuel Molina and Matteo Ruggeri will feature on the flanks as full-backs, while Jose Gimenez will pair up with David Hancko in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Pablo Barrios will start alongside Koke in the centre of the park. The duo will look to ensure they dominate possession and help control the tempo of the game. Giovanni Simeone and Nicolas Gonzalez will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Finally, Julian Alvarez will partner with Alex Baena in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Musso; Molina, Gimenez, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Barrios, Koke, Gonzalez; Alvarez, Baena
Real Oviedo
Ilyas Chaira will be serving a suspension during this fixture, following a red card in their last outing. Meanwhile, Alvaro Lemos and Ovie Ejaria are out injured for the away team.
Real Oviedo will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Aaron Escandell will feature in goal. Nacho Vidal and Javi Lopez will be the full-backs, while Dani Calvo will partner with David Costas in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Leander Dendoncker and Santiago Colombatto will form the double pivot in the middle of the park. The Real Oviedo midfield duo will look to shield the backline and ensure Atletico Madrid’s midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Federico Vinas and Santi Cazorla will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Pablo Agudin will take up the number ten role, while Salomon Rondon will lead the line for Real Oviedo against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Escandell; Vidal, Costas, Calvo, Lopez; Colombatto, Dendoncker; Vinas, Agudin, Cazorla; Rondon
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid are eyeing their seventh straight win across competitions.
- Real Oviedo have failed to win any of their last five league outings.
- Diego Simeone’s team have won each of their last five league outings.
- Real Oviedo have only won one out of their last six away games. They have suffered defeat in five of those fixtures.
- Atletico Madrid have the second-best home record in the Spanish top flight, having picked up 19 points in their seven outings.
Player to Watch
Alex Baena
Baena’s debut campaign at Atletico Madrid has not really gone according to plan. Injuries kept him out of the squad in the initial weeks; however, he has bounced back in some fashion. The 24-year-old has contributed towards two goals in La Liga, and he has been a constant feature in their XI in recent weeks.
Baena is expected to start in this fixture, and given his recent form, he could be a handful for the opposition. More importantly, he will be eager to help his team continue their dominant run in the league, as they slowly close the gap at the top.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 3-1 Real Oviedo
Atletico Madrid come into this fixture full of confidence and momentum, and with six consecutive wins behind them, Diego Simeone’s men will expect to extend their dominant run. Their recent performances have shown a side that is compact, relentless and increasingly efficient in the final third.
Real Oviedo, meanwhile, arrive at Estadio Metropolitano with little to suggest they can halt Atletico Madrid’s surge. They remain bottom of the table, winless in their last six league outings, and will be without key man Ilyas Chaira after his red card last time out.
While their resilience in securing a point with ten men against Rayo Vallecano was admirable, facing an Atletico Madrid side in this kind of form is a far greater challenge. The Hard Tackle predicts a comfortable 3-1 win for the home team.
