Today, Atlético will write its first episode of the remodeled Champions League against a dangerous enemy who also arrives at a good time in a way Metropolitan. Leipzig, executioner of the red and whites in the quarter-finals of the 19-20 season, is encouraged by its victory in Leverkusen and by the seven points out of a possible nine that it has in the Bundesliga. “You have to go there to win, no matter who you are against,” Simeone clearly explained yesterday during the previous press conference.
To add the first three points, Cholo will resort to a surprising decision, leave Englishman Gallagher on the bench looking for a team with more touch and control in midfield, where Griezmann will appear next to From Paul And koke to go to the forefront of the attack Linen And Julien Alvarez. After the magnificent match of pitbull Against Valencia it is a risky bet for the coach, who is clear that against Leipzig he will have to propose a very different tactic.
One of the motivations of the match will undoubtedly be The return to the Metropolitan of the Belgian Vermeerenloaned by Atlético to Leipzig. In an interview with the official media of the club from the former East Germany, the midfielder indicated that he was “very happy” when the duo happened, because, he said, he knows “a lot of people” at Atlético, but he noted that He just wants to “play really well” and “win this match”.
Vermeeren He stressed that it will be “very special, because there will be a great atmosphere”, and that the Atlético de Madrid fans “are incredible” and “They have a great passion for the club”So Leipzig will have to “be strong and try to calm the crowd down a bit,” he added with a laugh.
Asked about a former teammate he would like to face, the Belgian international mentioned the Mozambican. Reinildowho he said was the one who “helped him the most”, “especially when he wasn’t playing”. “As a youngster, it’s not easy. He always reminded me that I had to be happy, that I had to be positive. That’s why I want to see him again and I hope we can talk after the game,” he said.
Slovak Ivan Kruzliak in the countryside and in Poland Tomasz Kwiatowski In the VAR, they will be the judges of a match that begins with the request after the Sparta Prague’s surprising victory over Salzburg in this same group, which shows that, according to what Cholo said yesterday in the previous press conference, the level of demand will be maximum.
Probable lineups:
Athletic: Oblak, Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Azpilicueta, Riquelme, De Paul, Koke, Griezmann, Lino and Julián Álvarez.
Leipzig: Gulacsi, Klosterman, Lukeba, Bistshiabu, Henrichs, Haidara, Kampi, Raum, Sesko, Simons and Openda.
Referees: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia) and Tomasz Kwiatoski (Poland, VAR).
Stadium: Metropolitan, 9:00 p.m.
