Things are going from bad to worse for Diego Simeone. A poor Atletico Madrid were dumped from the Champions League in midweek by Chelsea, 3-0, on aggregate.
The La Liga title race isn’t going well at the moment as Los Colchoneros’ once impressive lead at the top of table has been reduced to four points by Barcelona. They have won just twice in their last six games in the Spanish top flight.
⏹ FT in London. pic.twitter.com/ovpRTago21— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 17, 2021
⏹ FT in London. pic.twitter.com/ovpRTago21
On Sunday, Atletico Madrid host 18th-place Alaves in a game that should be a win, on paper. Of course, football is not played on paper and with the team in such poor form, anything could happen this weekend.
Alaves are winless in five straight games with four of those matches ending in losses. They did draw 1-1 last weekend versus Cadiz. However, they really needed to win in that six-point fixture.
Atletico Madrid claimed a 2-1 win against Alaves when the teams met earlier this season. However. Simeone’s side needed a 90th-minute Luis Suarez goal to win.
Marcos Llorente scored just before halftime to put Ateltico Madrid up at the break.
Alaves’ Victor Laguardia was sent off just after the hour-mark, but the Basque team got back into the game thanks to a Felipe own goal with six minutes left on the clock.
Atletico Madrid got the winner thanks to Suarez, who has accounted for 36% of the team’s scoring.
Simeone will be without two players due to suspension. Felipe Monteiro is suspended as is Joao Felix. The Portuguese forward continues to underperform just as many of the high-priced transfer flops Atletico Madrid have signed under Simeone.
The manager’s defensive tactics do not adapt well to the high-priced attacking players the club buys.
His tactics may have worked in the past, but this week’s Champions League exit showed just how one-dimensional the team are. It could haunt them in the La Liga title race.
Alaves manager Abelardo has two players suspended for the game. Midfielder Manu Garcia and Tomas Pina are ruled out due to suspensions.
Defender Abdel Abqar is a doubt due to injury while defender Rodrigo Ely is due back any time following a ligament injury.
Atletico Madrid have won back-to-back games versus Alaves and should make it a third win on the bounce. Both games saw over 2.5 goals and both teams score.
Expect those trends to continue as Atletico Madrid claim a third straight win versus Alaves in La Liga.