Atletico Madrid News
Official: Atletico Madrid squad list vs Villarreal announced
After starting their season emphatically, with a 3-0 victory over Getafe, Atletico Madrid will brace themselves for a far bigger challenge as they take on Villarreal on Saturday.
The 2021 La Liga champions are aiming to maintain their winning form they acquired during the pre-season, which had included a 4-0 victory over Manchester United.
Ahead of the Villarreal match-up, Atletico Madrid have announced their squad, featuring some of the players who had missed out on the opening matchday, including Felipe.
📋 Your Atleti squad list for tomorrow's game! pic.twitter.com/dtmJi3qrCL
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) August 20, 2022
The Brazilian was unable against Getafe, but he has returned in contention against Villarreal. He could be a serious option for Diego Simeone at centre-back, even though Axel Witsel performed brilliantly in his place.
Other defenders in the squad include Reinildo Mandava, Stefan Savic, Nahuel Molina, Jose Maria Gimenez and Mario Hermoso, among many others. All of these were included in the squad that faced Getafe.
Moving into midfield, Saul Niguez may continue in the left wing-back role, although Yannick Carrasco is making a strong case for the starting eleven.
Rodrigo de Paul, Thomas Lemar and Marcos Llorente are the other creative midfielders available in the squad, whereas Koke and Geoffrey Kondogbia are options to operate in a slightly withdrawn position.
As for the attack, Antoine Griezmann has been included in the side and there are many expectations that he may even start a goal following a promising game against Getafe earlier this month.
However, it will be tricky for the Frenchman to displace Alvaro Morata in the side, with Joao Felix likely to accompany him in the attacking unit. It should ultimately have an adverse effect on Griezmann’s overall game-time.
Angel Correa and Matheus Cunha are the other options in the attacking unit.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder on the derby against Real Madrid: “Very difficult to beat them”
Following a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener against Lazio, Atletico Madrid will shift all their attention to La Liga, as they brace themselves for the derby against Real Madrid this weekend.
Heading into this game, Atleti midfielder Marcos Llorente spoke about Real Madrid’s quality and Atletico Madrid’s chances of squeezing all three points from this iconic derby.
Llorente on Madrid derby
“The sensations are good. The team is very good, the other day we played a great game despite ending up drawing. I really think that the team did a great job that must be maintained for this match,” Llorente said in an interview with Diario AS.
When asked whether or not Real Madrid being tagged as favourites could aid Atleti, the midfielder said, “Honestly, it neither motivates me nor demotivates me. We simply have to do what we work on during the week, what the coach asks of us.”
Llorente stressed the importance of the game, adding, “It is a great rival we have in front of us, they are having a very good start to the season and that motivates me and everyone to try to play a good game.”
“Real Madrid is a great club, they have great players and it is very difficult to beat them. I think we have competed, we have also achieved several draws, but in the end, either you go out one hundred percent and do things very, very well or it is difficult to beat them,” he added.
A former member of the Real Madrid youth academy, Llorente joined Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since then, he has racked up over 150 competitive appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Llorente, though, said he feels no sense of vindication when he performs well against his former team.
“No. In the end, it’s been many years since I left there and I’m at Atlético. Perhaps in the first years, those types of feelings and sensations can arise, but today they no longer do,” he said.
Llorente on Vinicius, Koke & Bellingham
The Atletico Madrid star went on to talk about other aspects of the game, including the fact that his team had one less player every time they faced Real Madrid last season.
“I have zero worries. These are things that are not in our remit, that escape our hands. We play football, the referees referee and those who have to decide decide,” he said.
Llorente, in fact, said that the return of Koke could be a real boost for Atleti. “It is always good that Koke is with us, both on the field and in the day-to-day life of the game,” he said.
“Beyond the grass. The support he gives, the advice he gives us, his experience. it is always important to have him and it is great news that he is already training with us,” he added.
Talking about the absence of Vinicius Junior and the form of Jude Bellingham, Llorente said, “Well, you have to be careful with everyone. All Real Madrid players are very good and can make a difference at any moment of the game. Bellingham is having a great start and we have to take that into account and be very focused.”
Finally, Marcos Llorente put out a message for all the Atletico Madrid fans, claiming their support ahead of this crucial encounter this weekend.
“It will be a full house as always. We don’t have to tell them anything, they know the importance of this match for Atlético, we know that they never fail, they are always supporting us and we count on them,” he said.
