Atlético against the impossible variant

Statistics insist that there is no more tame rival for him Athletic in his stadium that he Elche, one of the few teams that have never won in any of the three rojiblancos stadiums. The last positive result for Alicante was a zero draw in October 1968, almost 53 years ago. In addition, to Fran Scribe Atlético de Madrid is particularly bad at it. They have lost eight of their eleven matches to Simeone and with Elche it adds five defeats in five games in which, in addition, his team has not been able to score a single goal.

With these numbers in hand it seems that we are facing an impossible variant in the rojiblanco debut this season at the Metropolitano. After the triumph of the first day in Vigo, the team seeks the plenary session to once again make it clear that its objective is none other than to revalidate the league title. Opposite will be a combative Elche that comes from drawing at home against Athletic and wants to destroy once and for all. However, it will not be easy. In 24 games played in the rojiblanco fiefdom, he has suffered 21 defeats and conceded 70 goals while he has only been able to score 15. The difference between the two squads is overwhelming and the data is overwhelming, but football sometimes challenges even the clearest predictions.

Simeone is gradually recovering troops, although some key players still do not have enough rhythm to endure the entire game. It is the case of the Uruguayan Luis Suarez, who is emerging as a substitute for the second consecutive week, like the English Trippier. Llorente and Saúl will reoccupy the sides while the rumors that place the Alicante out of the team after this transfer window. At the moment Saúl responded with a great performance in Sweep that tomorrow will try to repeat.

Otherwise Argentine De Paul is emerging as a starter for the first time, completing a core of which will also be part of the irreplaceable Boil and french Kondogbia, whose great game in Galician lands is worth repeating in an eleven of which he will fall due to sanction Beautiful mario. Simeone has not been complicated and will return to the line of four, allowing him to add a midfielder to the wide zone.

Up front seems clear, with Lemar and Carrasco in the bands and Correa as reference. The Argentine has seven goals in his last nine games as a rojiblanco, which are the same as he had scored in the previous 63. He is in the prime of his sports career and no one can dispute his hierarchy. With Luis Suárez on the bench, Joao about to return and the signing that remains to complete the lead waiting for his turn, Ángelito Correa is now irreplaceable.

Finally, it is convenient not to ignore the refereeing aspect, which after what happened in Balaídos becomes quite important for Atlético, very sensitive to what they consider unfair treatment of many referees. Pita De Burgos Bengoetxea, with whom he has never lost in his history, although he has not directed too many games. The last one was in February at the stadium of The ceramic against Villarreal (0-2). For Elche it is the opposite: three encounters with the Bilbao referee that are summarized in two draws and one defeat.