Atletico Madrid will continue their pursuit of second-placed Real Madrid in the La Liga table when they continue their domestic campaign away to Real Valladolid on Sunday night.
Diego Simeone's side are currently third, two points behind the champions Real Madrid, while Real Valladolid sit 14th, four points clear of the relegation zone with seven games left to play.
Match preview
© Reuters
Real Valladolid picked up seven points from their three league matches against Mallorca, Villarreal and Girona between April 9 and April 22 to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
However, Thursday's 2-1 loss at Valencia has left them looking over their shoulder once again, with the gap to 18th-placed Getafe only four points heading into the final straight.
The White and Violets are arguably one of six teams battling to stay out of the bottom three, and they have some tough matches to come before the end of the season, which will be a concern.
Real Valladolid have picked up 24 points from their 15 home league games this season, which is far from a disastrous record, but they will be welcoming an Atletico team with the third-best away record, having collected 30 points from their 15 matches on their travels.
Paulo Pezzolano was appointed as the team's new head coach earlier this month following the sacking of Pacheta, and a positive start has seen him pick up seven points from an available 12.
© Reuters
Atletico, meanwhile, managed to bounce back from their 1-0 loss at Barcelona last Sunday by recording a 3-1 victory over Mallorca at Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday night.
Simeone's side actually fell behind in the 20th minute of the contest but levelled through Rodrigo De Paul late in the first period, before Alvaro Morata and Yannick Carrasco both netted in the second period.
The Red and Whites are third in the table, 13 points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal and just two behind second-placed Real Madrid, who have their eyes elsewhere at this stage of the campaign due to their involvement in the Copa del Rey final and semi-finals of the Champions League.
The defeat at Camp Nou last weekend was a setback for Atletico, but the capital giants have not lost a league match to a team other than Barcelona since before the break for the 2022 World Cup.
Simeone's team failed to qualify for the latter stages of Europe this season, but there has been plenty to cheer about in the league in 2023, and it would be seen as a huge success if they were able to finish above their bitter rivals Real Madrid considering their problems in the first half of the campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
Real Valladolid will again be without the services of Anuar Tuhami through injury, while Selim Amallah and Jawad El Yamiq are major doubts after being forced off against Valencia.
Alvaro Aguado and Javier Sanchez could therefore come into the starting side for this match, but there are not expected to be any alterations in the final third of the field.
Indeed, Cyle Larin, who has scored six league goals since arriving on loan in January, should again be partnered in the final third of the field by Gonzalo Plata.
As for Atletico, Jan Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Stefan Savic and Reinildo are still on the treatment table, while Memphis Depay is a major doubt due to a muscular issue.
Head coach Simeone could ultimately decide to stick with the same XI that took to the field against Mallorca, with Morata partnering Antoine Griezmann in the final third of the field.
Pablo Barrios and Angel Correa are both pushing for starts, but the pair could ultimately be on the bench once again, with De Paul, Koke and Thomas Lemar set to continue as the midfield three.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Masip; Fresneda, Fernandez, Hongla, Sanchez, Escudero; Aguado, Monchu, Perez; Plata, Marin
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Molina, Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso, Carrasco; De Paul, Koke, Lemar; Morata, Griezmann
We say: Real Valladolid 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Real Valladolid will be looking over their shoulder again following their loss at Valencia, and Atletico are arguably the most difficult side to face in the league at the moment. Simeone's team will be missing some key players on Sunday but should have enough quality to edge out another victory here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
