Cordoba vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Cordoba will welcome Atletico Madrid to the Nuevo Arcangel on Saturday, as La Liga action returns following the international break.
For the hosts, the layoff from domestic action came at an opportune moment. After grabbing 11 points from a possible 18 either side of the new year, Cordoba's season has gone into free fall, with the Andalusians losing nine straight league games and slumping to the foot of the table.
The eighth loss in that sequence, a 2-0 defeat to Malaga on March 15, cost manager Miroslav Djukic his job.
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Now, as La Liga action resumes with a visit from the defending champions, Los Blanquiverdes' hopes of rebounding will be dented due to a number of suspensions. Prior to the international break, caretaker coach Jose Antonio Romero saw defenders Aleksandar Pantic, Inigo Lopez and Dani Pinillos sent off against Real Sociedad, as Cordoba ended the clash with eight men.
Such a situation will force Romero into a reshuffle, with Jose Angel Crespo likely to return to the lineup and possibly partner Deivid in the centre of the defence. Brazilian defender Edimar should also take up the left-back position.
For the visitors, Saturday's trip to Cordoba represents another important step in their quest for automatic qualification into next season's Champions League.
Having been overtaken in the league table by Valencia, Diego Simeone's men need to capitalise on a fairly kind run of fixtures between now and the end of the campaign.
Boosting Los Colchoneros will be the return of midfielder Saul, who hasn't been seen since the Champions League first-leg clash with Bayer Leverkusen in late February.
Returning from a kidney injury, the 20-year-old is likely to start on the bench at the Nuevo Arcangel.
Elsewhere, Jose Gimenez will stand alongside Diego Godin at the back once more, with Miranda serving the second game of his two-match suspension for his red card against Espanyol.
Date: Saturday, April 4
Time: 5 p.m. BST / 12 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Nuevo Arcangel, Cordoba
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| L: 1-3 vs. Real Sociedad | W: 2-0 vs. Getafe |
| L: 0-2 vs. Malaga | W: 1-0 vs. Bayer Leverkusen |
| L: 1-2 vs. Getafe | D: 0-0 vs. Espanyol |
| L: 0-1 vs. Espanyol | D: 1-1 vs. Valencia |
| L: 1-2 vs. Valencia | D: 0-0 vs. Sevilla |
| L: 0-3 vs. Sevilla | L: 0-1 vs. Bayer Leverkusen |
Predicted Formations
Players to Watch
Since making his La Liga debut in January, Florin Andone has been one of Cordoba's few bright spots in a disastrous year to date.
A bustling striker with a powerful shot and strong aerial ability, the Romanian has comfortably been Los Blanquiverdes' biggest threat in front of goal and might relish the opportunity to mix it with Atletico's physical defence on Saturday.
For the visitors, Antoine Griezmann will be the one to watch.
After a blistering opening to 2015, Griezmann, much like his team, endured a difficult time in March, going scoreless for a full month for the first time since joining Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad.
That barren run, possibly combined with a degree of fatigue, saw Simeone bench the Frenchman for the win over Getafe prior to the international break.
Afterward, per Marca, the manager commented: "We need Griezmann to continue to grow, because he hasn't been his usual self in many recent matches."
Likely to return to the starting lineup against Cordoba, expect the blossoming forward to respond.
Key Battle
During the ongoing build to Saturday's clash, Cordoba's Bebe was asked what's behind his team's long string of losses.
His response: Experience, or a lack thereof.
"I think the most striking thing is, in my opinion, that we are too young. We should have more experienced players," the forward said, per Cordobadeporte.com (h/t Jamie Kemp of Inside Spanish Football).
When you look across Cordoba's potential XI for the meeting with Atletico, it's an important point.
In midfield, Rene Krhin and Borja are 24 and Bruno Zuculini is just 22. Ahead of them, Fidel is 25, Fede Cartabia is 22 and Andone is 21.
Can that group repel the power and physicality of Simeone's Atleti?
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Cordoba: 17/2
Draw: 7/2
Atletico Madrid: 2/5
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