Following their famous Champions League quarter-final success over Barcelona, Atletico Madrid return to league action on Sunday looking to close the gap between themselves and their European victims in La Liga with a victory over Granada CF.
With Barcelona playing Valencia later, it is the ideal opportunity for Diego SImeone’s side to put the pressue on the Catalan side. A win will put Atletico level on points with Luis Enrique’s side, with only Barcelona’s superior head-to-head record keeping them from the top of the table.
On the other hand, this match is crucial for Granada for very different reasons. They lie 17th in the La Liga standings, one point ahead of Sporting de Gijon in 18th and a game in hand. Can they upset the odds and pull off a result that sends shockwaves across the Vicente Calderon?
Kick-Off and Live Telecast
Channel: No live telecast in India due to the IPL
Kick-Off : Sunday, 17th April – 2145 IST
Venue: Vicente Calderon, Madrid
Team News
Atletico Madrid left-back Filipe Luis is suspended due to a yellow card accumulation, so Jesus Gamez is set to replace him at left-back. Fernando Torres returns after missing out Atletico’s second leg victory over Barcelona through suspension, but centre-back Tiago is still out.
Granada winger Isaac Success is facing a ban, meaning that Isaac Cuenca is expected to slot in. Forward Youssef el-Arabi is doubtful and is expected to be on the bench.
Team Form
Atletico Madrid have done it yet again. Just like in 2014, they have knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a famous victory at the Vicente Calderon. Their defence has been nearly impenetrable all season and Wednesday was yet another mammoth effort by Atletico’s back-four to shut out the MSN trio. Filipe Luis – who misses out on this game due to suspension – choked Dani Alves for any space on the wing throughout the game and was amongst many heroes for Diego Simeone’s men. The passion they bring to the field reflects on their manager, who had a similar personality during his playing days. Can they back that performance up with a similar display against relegation candidates Granada to remain hot on Barcelona’s heels in the league?
Last 5 games (All Competitions) : W-W-L-W-L (Most Recent – Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona)
Granada are in huge trouble as they fight to retain their La Liga status for another season. They have drawn their last 4 league games, including an unbelievable 0-0 draw against Malaga, where Isaac Success’ failure to score from a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper was one of many chances Granada fluffed to take the three points. A team as defensively sound as Atletico is not going to allow them too many chances, and with Success suspended and forward el-Arabi likely to miss out, they face a monumental task to get anything out of this game.
Last 5 games (All Competitions) : D-D-D-D-L (Most Recent – Granada 0-0 Malaga)
Predicted Starting XI
Key Stats
1. Granada have not beaten Atletico Madrid in their last 9 meetings. (D1, L8)
- They have scored just once in these 9 fixtures.
- Atletico Madrid have lost just once at home this season – a 1-2 defeat to Barcelona back in September.
- Antoine Griezmann has scored 20 goals and assisted a further four in 32 league appearances for Atletico.
- Granada have drawn their last 4 games in La Liga
- Youssef el-Arabi – who is doubtful for today’s game – is Granada’s top-scorer this season with 10 league goals. The next on this list is 5 goals by Isaac Succes – who is banned.
Key Battle
Antoine Griezmann vs Cristiano Biraghi
Antoine Griezmann – who has been Atletico’s star this season with 20 league goals – will fancy his chances against Inter Milan loanee Cristiano Biraghi on the counter. Madrid’s tendency to absorb the pressure and then wipe teams out on the break is likely to keep Biraghi on his toes as he looks to neutralise the threat posed by Antoine Griezmann’s pace and fluency on the ball.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Granada
With Granada’s top goal-scorers absent and Atletico’s defensive adeptness, one can only see a straightforward victory for Diego Simeone’s side as they look to go level on points with Barcelona before they kick-off against Valencia.
