Atlético will play their first match without João Félix in Almería. With the Portuguese on loan at Chelsea this week, Simeone traveled with 17 first-team footballers to Almería, a place that has historically not been easy for the rojiblancos: they have only won twice out of seven there. The first was in 1995 in the Cup, the second in 2014, already with Cholo. In between, two defeats and three draws. Simeone, in addition to João’s, has important casualties.
The first, Savic’s, this afternoon (4:15 p.m., DAZN) will serve the first of his two game bans. In exchange, he recovers Hermoso, sanctioned against Barça. But you also lose Giménez, with discomfort did not travel: It is the 96th game that he lost as a rojiblanco, four away from his heavy and particular centenary. Witsel will go to that line to reinforce it. There is no other. Nor will Carrasco be there when he suffers an elongation.
Two and a half strikers
Over week, Simeone has tried several options to face Rubi’s team. The last of the week included Kondogbia and Koke in the middle, to the detriment of Barrios, that homegrown player who has tied to his boot the illusion of a crowd thirsty for boys who are shields. Here’s a note: the only midfielder the Argentinian didn’t try out with is Saúl, striking his ostracismhis lack of input into the plans, he who once led them all.
Above, in that lead that once filled five and without Cunha neither João it has stayed in two and a halfBecause Morata and Correa are there and also Griezmann but lately the latter is more of a midfielder, the Argentine is called to accompany the French. Thus, the eleven that Simeone meditates would be formed by: Oblak; Nahuel, Witsel, Hermoso, Reinildo; Llorente, Kondogbia, Koke, Lemar; Griezmann and Correa.