Atletico Madrid will be looking to return to winning ways in La Liga when they travel to the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla to face Real Valladolid on Sunday afternoon.
Diego Simeone's side are currently third in the table on 14 points - just one point off division leaders Real Madrid, while Valladolid occupy 10th spot after a solid start to the 2019-20 campaign.
Match preview
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Two wins, three draws and two defeats - that is how Valladolid have performed in La Liga this season. A total of nine points from their seven matches has left them in 10th spot in the table, just four points off fourth.
Sergio Gonzalez's side made a winning start to the season as they recorded a 2-1 victory over Real Betis on August 18, before picking up an impressive point at Real Madrid one week later. The White and Violets failed to win any of their next four, though, suffering defeats to Levante and Villarreal in the process.
Such a run would have been concerning if it had continued, but Valladolid managed to return to winning ways last weekend as they put two unanswered goals past Espanyol to move away from the bottom of the table.
Staying in Spain's top flight has been a real problem for the club in recent years. Indeed, they spent four straight seasons in the Segunda Division before returning to La Liga last season, finishing 16th to ensure that they would compete at this level for a second successive campaign.
The omens are not exactly terrific for Valladolid heading into this weekend's contest, though, as they have lost each of their last eight La Liga meetings with Atletico. That said, Blanquivioletas did beat the capital giants in back-to-back matches during the 2008-09 campaign.
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Atletico, meanwhile, have made a typically solid start to the season with a total of 14 points from their seven matches leaving them in third position, just one point off leaders Real Madrid heading into week eight.
Simeone's side played out a goalless draw with Los Blancos at the Wanda Metropolitano last weekend, meaning that they have only won one of their last four in the league, having also lost to Real Sociedad and drawn with Celta Vigo since the September international break.
Valladolid have had a free week to prepare for this match, but the same cannot be said for Atletico as the capital giants were in Champions League action away to Lokomotiv Moscow on Tuesday. The travelling will have taken it out of the players, but a 2-0 victory was secured courtesy of goals from Joao Felix and Thomas Partey.
A bunched-up division sees just four points separate the top eight teams - Simeone will be content with how his side have started, although they are the lowest scorers in the top 12 with just seven goals.
Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have tough games this weekend, though, and Atletico will be keen not to waste the chance to potentially move to the top of the table ahead of the upcoming international break.
Real Valladolid form: DLDLDW
Atletico Madrid form: WWLDWD
Team News
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Valladolid will once again be without the services of Luismi, Ruben Alcaraz and Javi Sanchez, but head coach Sergio has no fresh injury concerns from the win over Espanyol last time out.
Sandro Ramirez and Sergi Guardiola are expected to continue as the front two, while Oscar Plano should also keep his spot in a wide area after netting in the 2-0 success at the RCDE Stadium.
Pedro Porro is one player who could come into the starting XI, although Joaquin Fernandez and Enes Unal might have to make do with spots on the bench once again.
As for Atletico, Vitolo and Sime Vrsaljko are still on the sidelines, but the capital giants did not pick up any new injuries during their trip to Moscow.
Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata and Felix are all expected to feature in the final third of the field, while Stefan Savic and Kieran Trippier should return having been left out of the Champions League clash.
Thomas Lemar and Angel Correa are also options for change, although the pair are expected to be named among the substitutes once again.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup: Masip; Nacho, Salisu, Kiko, Porro; Villa, Emeterio, Michel, Plano; Guardiola, Sandro
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup: Oblak; Trippier, Gimenez, Savic, Lodi; Koke, Thomas, Saul; Felix; Costa, Morata
We say: Real Valladolid 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Valladolid have already claimed one scalp against a Madrid giant this season, but we are finding it difficult to back against Simeone's side - we just fancy the visitors to edge a tight game at the Jose Zorrilla.
Matt Law
