Granada vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Atletico Madrid will travel south to the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes on Saturday to take on Granada on the final matchday of the 2014-15 season in La Liga.
Currently leading Valencia by three points in the race for third place, Diego Simeone's men need just one point from their trip to Andalusia to secure the last guaranteed place in next season's Champions League.
Three weeks ago, such a task would have appeared to be a relatively simple one against a Granada side trudging toward relegation. But not now.
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Since Jose Ramon Sandoval took over as manager from Abel Resino—who himself took over from Joaquin Caparros as recently as January—Granada have claimed three straight victories, the latest of which was an impressive 3-0 triumph over David Moyes' Real Sociedad that has pushed the Andalusians out of the relegation zone.
Remarkably, prior to Ramon Sandoval's arrival, Granada had won just four times all season.
The stark turnaround has been the result of a seemingly revitalised forward setup, led by striker Youssef El-Arabi, who's scored four goals during the run. Behind him, No. 10 Piti has been instrumental, while wide man Ruben Rochina has been enterprising from the left. Some impressive stops from goalkeeper Roberto also have proven invaluable.
Now, entering this season finale against Atletico, Granada know another victory will secure survival in La Liga.
For the visitors, a disappointing conclusion to the season has left them needing to take at least a point away from Los Carmenes to guarantee their own goal—third place.
Indeed, draws with Athletic Bilbao (0-0) and Levante (2-2), followed by last weekend's loss to Barcelona (0-1), have made Atleti's final-day task harder than it needed to be. But Simeone's men will be buoyed by their recent record against Granada, having recorded six straight victories over the Nazaries.
In team news for the travelling side, Tiago, who returns from suspension, is likely to replace Mario Suarez in the centre of midfield, while Mario Mandzukic could come in for Fernando Torres and partner Antoine Griezmann in a two-man attack.
Date: Saturday
Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. EDT / 6:30 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, Granada
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)
Form Lines
| W: 3-0 vs. Real Sociedad | L: 0-1 vs. Barcelona |
| W: 2-0 vs. Cordoba | D: 2-2 vs. Levante |
| W: 2-1 vs. Getafe | D: 0-0 vs. Athletic Bilbao |
| L: 1-2 vs. Espanyol | W: 1-0 vs. Villarreal |
| L: 0-4 vs. Valencia | W: 3-0 vs. Elche |
| D: 1-1 vs. Sevilla | L: 0-1 vs. Real Madrid |
Predicted Formations
Players to Watch
It's been quite a journey in recent years for Rochina, a player who left the Barcelona pipeline in 2011 for the highly contrasting destination of Blackburn. Loan spells at Real Zaragoza and Rayo Vallecano followed before he found his way to Granada last summer.
But it hasn't been an easy first season in Andalusia for the attacking midfielder, who's been dogged by injury and has made just 11 starts in the Primera Division.
But under new manager Ramon Sandoval (his third manager of the season), Rochina has found some of his best form in the last three matches, providing Granada with an attacking spark from the left to push his new club toward top-flight survival.
He also scored this screamer against Real Sociedad last weekend.
For Atletico, might this be the last time Mandzukic features for Los Colchoneros?
Despite putting together a fine first season at Atleti that has included 20 goals, reports continue to suggest the Croatian will depart the Vicente Calderon Stadium this summer, as Simeone looks to find a striker more in the Diego Costa mould.
Indeed, Mandzukic's presence in 2014-15 has forced Simeone and Atletico to change their method somewhat, with his less mobile style seeing the capital club caught somewhere in between their preference for counter-attacking football and a possession-based approach.
But even so, the former Bayern Munich star has been a potent target man for Atleti and the scorer of pivotal goals.
Could another strike, potentially his last in red and white, secure third place for Atletico?
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Granada: 17-5
Draw: 7-5
Atletico Madrid: 27-20
