Atletico Madrid vs. Sporting Gijon: Team News, Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Following disappointing draws in La Liga and the Champions League in the past week, Sunday's match against Sporting Gijon has suddenly become a very big game for Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, who is facing questions over his reign at the club for surely the first time.
A perceived negativity has begun to anger the club’s fans, with Atletico frequently failing to build on leads, sitting back and inviting pressure and sometimes squandering their advantage—as they did at Deportivo La Coruna last time out in the league.
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The goalless draw at Astana in the Champions League on Tuesday only heightened those concerns, so supporters will head to the Vicente Calderon a little fearful of what they might witness but expecting Simeone’s title contenders to win the game against a promoted outfit.
Sporting Gijon have done well to sit in 12th place in the table, and they enjoyed an impressive 1-0 victory over Malaga in their most recent game.
This, however, is a much tougher test.
Date: Sunday, November 8
Time: 5.15 p.m. GMT / 12.15 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports 3
Live Stream: Sky Sports
Last 6 Results
Atletico Madrid
Drew 1-1 vs. Real Madrid
Won 2-0 vs. Real Sociedad
Won 4-0 vs. Astana
Won 2-1 vs. Valencia
Drew 1-1 vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Drew 0-0 vs. Astana
Sporting Gijon
Lost 2-1 vs. Rayo Vallecano
Lost 2-1 vs. Real Betis
Won 2-1 vs. Espanyol
Drew 3-3 vs. Granada
Lost 3-0 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Won 1-0 vs. Malaga
Atletico Madrid
There has to come a time when Diego Simeone installs Jackson Martinez as first-choice partner for Antoine Griezmann, and this would seem as good an opportunity as any.
The Colombian should replace Fernando Torres in the side after coming on for the disappointing Spaniard just after the hour mark in Astana. Oliver Torres will also be pushing for a start after only playing the final eight minutes in Kazakhstan.
Possible lineup: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Siqueira, Oliver Torres, Gabi, Tiago, Koke, Griezmann, Martinez.
Sporting Gijon
Sporting boss and former Barcelona and Spain centre-back Abelardo isn’t likely to change too much from the morale-boosting 1-0 win over Malaga last time out, which was achieved courtesy of a goal from the on-loan Barca prodigy Alen Halilovic.
Canella, Carlos Castro and Antonio Sanabria are all still out injured, so Abelardo could go with an unchanged side.
Possible lineup: Pichu Cuellar, Espinosa, Luis Hernandez, Lora, Isma Lopez, Alvarez, Mascarell, Perez, Halilovic, Guerrero, Jony.
Key Players
Atletico Madrid: Koke
If this is to be a game in which Atletico are determined to get on the front foot and show their attacking prowess, then the forward runs of midfielder Koke are certain to be crucial.
Now over the injury that was troubling him earlier in the season, the Spain international is one of the very best midfielders in La Liga when he’s on his game, something he’ll have to be here as Atletico look to provide service to their forwards.
Sporting Gijon: Alen Halilovic
One of the brightest young talents in European football, Croatian teenager Alen Halilovic has been sent to Sporting by Barcelona in order to gain some first-team experience in Spain, and it seems to be a move that is benefitting all parties.
The match-winner against Malaga, Halilovic is a cultured midfielder who will be central to all of Sporting’s attacking moves, and you feel as though he has to have a good game if his side are to stand a chance of getting anything.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Atletico Madrid: 3-10
Sporting Gijon: 9-1
Draw: 15-4
