Atlético Madrid play their first midweek LaLiga fixture of the season on Wednesday at home to Rayo Vallecano. It will be the first of two Madrid derbies this week, with Real Madrid awaiting on Saturday.
With just one win in the opening five matches of the season, Diego Simeone is under more pressure than ever to turn things around and steer the boat in the correct direction.
A start registering just six points after five league games is something we have never
seen during El Cholo’s time at the club, and now there are signs of frustration creeping into the squad. Star player Julián Alvarez was spotted reacting to being substituted off at last weekend’s draw to RCD Mallorca, saying “always me”, which one can imagine just how much is being blown out of proportion among the Spanish media.
In fairness to his manager, la araña had missed a penalty and was coming back from an injury which ruled him out against Liverpool last week. Nonetheless, Alvarez’s comment has lead to a fresh outburst of articles speculating his departure from the club next summer — which is far from helping the team’s current situation.
Once again, the fixture list seems to be working in Atlético’s favour with another one of the supposed “weaker” sides next up in Rayo.
Although competing in a European competition this season, the team from the Vallecas neighbourhood of Madrid find themselves below Atleti in the league table. Losses to Athletic Club and CA Osasuna away from home have been balanced out by respectable draws in their own stadium to Barcelona and Celta Vigo. Their only win came away to woeful Girona on the opening day of the season.
One reason for Rayo to have hope in this match comes from forward Jorge de Frutos’ recent spike in form. The Spaniard has scored three goals in all competitions and was given his first call-up to the national team for the September international break. His versatility across the front line, mixed with Álvaro García’s pace down the left, make Vallecano a force coming forward, and defensively they have been fairly solid considering their poor start. In the seven matches across league and UEFA Conference League, Rayo have only let in six goals.
Notably, in their two draws, they have been the team to score the equaliser after going a goal down, something of a bad omen for an Atlético Madrid side who can’t stop conceding after scoring a goal of their own.
Off the pitch, things in Vallecas are not so cheery. Owner and president Raúl Martín Presa has hit a new low when it comes to the neglect he is showing this gem of a club, with basic facilities like toilets, seats and even the pitch in dire straits. But luckily for them, they will have one of Europe’s best stadiums to play at on Wednesday night.
Atlético haven’t tasted defeat in this fixture in the league since before the turn of the millennium, and have only conceded six goals in the whole of Simeone’s tenure at home to Rayo. The latter stat can be largely put down to saves like this from Jan Oblak:
Team news
The past two days have seen a return to first team training for José María Giménez and Álex Baena, with the latter possibly appearing for a few minutes in this match. He has been out since an injury after matchday one was followed by an appendix operation. Giménez’s return to the pitch is thought to be a slower process.
Thiago Almada and Johnny Cardoso are already ruled out for this one, as both players continue to recover from their injuries. Alexander Sørloth, who was wildly sent off against Mallorca, is suspended for this game.
After his goal at the weekend, Conor Gallagher will be hoping to take Cardoso’s place alongside Pablo Barrios in midfield — especially given the Englishman’s goalscoring record against Rayo. Last season he netted both home and away against tomorrow’s opposition.
Without Sørloth, Giacomo Raspadori could start his second game in a row, partnering Alvarez who will want to put his penalty miss behind him and get into the goalscoring flow he has yet to find this season.
At the back, Simeone continues to snub Matteo Ruggeri, favouring David Hancko and Javi Galán at left-back in recent games. There is nothing to suggest El Cholo won’t continue on this path for this match, as well as keeping Clément Lenglet in the heart of defence.
Could this be the day Llorente is given his opportunity further up the pitch from the outset? He’s had a hand in the last three goals his side has scored in all competitions, looking like a massive threat from a more advanced position. Nahuel Molina’s shaky cameo at the weekend probably hasn’t helped matters to cover Llorente, and Marc Pubill seems to not exist in the manager’s realm of thinking. Plus, it’s likely Giuliano Simeone would have to be dropped, which doesn’t look likely.
Predicted lineup
Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Hancko; Giuliano, Barrios, Gallagher, Nico; Alvarez, Raspadori.
