After a good win over Valencia last Sunday, Simeone leads Atlético to face Granada CF, a team that seams stronger when they play at their own stadium.
Kick off at Nuevo Los Cármenes is set for 20:25 CET.
Concerns come from both Simeone and the fans when we realize the number of players Atleti has off from injuries: Torres, Gabi, Tiago, Augusto and now Gameiro, who is currently having some discomfort on the abdominal muscles.
At Cholo’s squad call, Cerci and Shiappacasse are on the list. Schiappacasse’s selection makes him have his debut, traveling with the team this Saturday since Torres and Gameiro’s absence. The Uruguayan’s current squad is Atletico Madrid B as Forward. More info on the young striker: What can we expect from Nicolás Schiappacasse?
Simeone expressed his concerns on facing the “Nazaríes”. Granada CF seems to be stronger playing at their home. In fact, their last three wins were at Nuevo Los Cármenes. Although, they have been defeated by eight goals on their last three losses away from home.
“The second round is completely different from the first” said Simeone earlier at his conference, “and it is more when we will play at the home of those who are fighting to go out of the dangerous zone”.
If we remember last October at Calderón, Granada was crushed by Atleti 7-1. Carrasco was the man of the match scoring three of the seven goals, Gaitán scored twice and Correa and Tiago the completed the score.
Granada FC is currently on a dangerous position (18th on the Table). Their coach Lucas Alcaraz is aware of his team’s weaknesses since this year Liga started. “Atlético is a fast team and great at set-pieces, but we are focusing on ourselves”, were his words on Cholo’s team.
Alcaraz wants to keep his team ambitious in order to fight off relegation. Meanwhile, both Simeone and the team’s goals are on keeping a 3-point win every time. Hopes and concerns are on the line-ups and resource of players, since many of our important ones cannot attend, unfortunately.
?#ATMFLASH ?
? @Simeone: "@GranadaCdeF_en is very strong and intense at the Nuevo Los Cármenes"#GoAtleti #GranadaAtleti pic.twitter.com/hV6rGWFpIN— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 10, 2017
We will see what the team has on hand before their Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen next Wednesday.
Squad List for Granada:
Goalkeepers: Moyá, Oblak.
Defenders: Godín, Filipe, Savic, Vrsaljko, Lucas, Juanfran, Giménez.
Midfielders: Koke, Saúl, Carrasco, Cerci, Thomas, Gaitán.
Forwards: Griezmann, Correa, Schiappacasse.