Atlético de Madrid and Athletic de Bilbao face each other in a duel marked by the colchoneros’ tribute to the lions and the rarefied atmosphere in the stands with Simeone
Atlético de Madrid is living a tense time at the Metropolitan in which the idyll between Diego Simeone and the fans has diminished. There is less will to cheer and more division around the Argentina coach, who is having his worst season as leader of the rojiblanco team. The Buenos Aires man continues to throw darts at his own fans whenever he gets the chance and the day before he was due to meet Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga he would see no less: “Anything that is not together, we all lose.” Simeone calls for an end to the ‘civil war’ climate in the stands to take on Ernesto Valverde’s men, who have scored points in three of their last four LaLiga games against Atlético de Madrid and have not lost in one of their last three visits to teams from the Community of Madrid in the match.
The Metropolitan this Sunday measures the ambition of two teams six points apart for the Champions League and for Europe with the pre-match tribute that locals will pay to the visitors as the founding club of the Madrid team in 1903. Already during the A crucial duel for both, Atlético will hand over the red and white stripes to Athletic, the colors of both teams, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Bilbao institution, founded in 1898.
The Basques, with their morale boosted after beating Cadiz and Valencia, are looking to continue their good streak, incidentally ending their coach’s in his private duels with the Argentine, which he has never won after 11 appearances against their current sides. On the other hand, what should be a cause for joy in normal circumstances, the fact that the rojiblancos have been reunited with their fans this season, especially more recently, is cause for concern.
The Metropolitan have clearly become their Achilles’ heel, dropping half the points played, 15 out of 30. In a hypothetical home-only competition, Atlético would be 13th, five points behind relegation. Something in particular contrast with the appearance as a visitor, where the people from Madrid are fourth best, with 23 points, seven wins, two draws and two defeats.
Likely lineups:
Atlético Madrid: Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Hermoso, Reinildo; Llorente, Koke, De Paul; Griezman; Correa, Carrasco.
Athletic: Unai Simon; From Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Vesga, Zarraga; Nico Williams, Sancet, Muniain; and Inaki Williams.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
