Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Stream, TV Info
Thomas Teye Partey is the new man in the limelight for Atletico Madrid—some achievement considering he hasn't actually started a game in La Liga yet this season.
Wednesday night brings the Copa del Rey, though, and a surefire opportunity for Partey to get more game time, with the Ghana-born midfielder having started both legs in the last round of Spain's domestic cup.
Having had to wait a long time for his opportunity this season, the 22-year-old has really taken the chances coming his way of late; he has been named on the bench in La Liga for the last six games, coming on in five of them to great effect.
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Partey scored the winner for Atleti late on at the weekend, finally breaching Levante's defence to beat the bottom club 1-0 and send his team top of the table after Barcelona had drawn at Espanyol.
That came after he had also provided a late assist to help break down Rayo—Wednesday night's opponents—in league play in the last game of 2015, and the only goal of the second leg against Reus Deportiu in mid-December.
Having spent last season on loan at Almeria, particularly impressing in the second half of the campaign, Partey is now showing his capabilities in a far better squad.
His surging runs, close control and ability to curl a shot from range make him an interesting alternative to most of the Atleti midfield—he can play as a box-to-box option or, as was the case late on against Levante, just behind the striker.
There is big competition for places in Atleti's midfield, not just from established stars such as Koke and Gabi, but now also from the impressive Saul and new arrivals Matias Kranevitter and Augusto Fernandez.
Partey can only perform to his best and let his manager Diego Simeone appreciate his efforts—something clearly beginning to be the case if reports in Marca are to be believed, with the boss instructing the board to turn down bids for the player, including one from Watford for €9 million.
Atleti's newest breakthrough hope isn't going to get chances to start every week, so the Copa is a vital arena for him to prove his worth.
Partey has already helped to beat Rayo in recent weeks off the bench; starting this time and putting in a good display throughout the 90 minutes will push him closer to more game time in a side capable of competing on all fronts this term.
Date: Wednesday, January 6
Time: 9:05 p.m. GMT/4:05 p.m. ET
Venue: Vallecas, Madrid
TV Info: TVE La1 (ESP), beIN Sports en Espanol (USA)
Live Stream: LaLigaTVCopa (UK), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (USA)
The Teams
Rayo Vallecano made it past Getafe in the last round of the Copa del Rey thanks to an away-goals victory, with Lass Bangoura netting in the second half of a 3-1 loss in the second leg to send his team through, with the tie finishing 3-3 on aggregate.
Their recent form has been woeful; just one win in the last nine—the first leg against Getafe—and that includes a 10-2 loss against Real Madrid and the late 2-0 reversal against Atleti.
Things at least looked up last time out, with Rayo twice going ahead before drawing 2-2 at home to Real Sociedad at the weekend.
Atletico cruised through the last round in the cup, beating Reus Deportiu 3-1 on aggregate, despite going behind early in the first leg.
They also went top in La Liga at the weekend thanks to the win over Levante, but recent games have relied heavily on late winners rather than sweeping all before them.
Team News
Razvan Rat may be fit to return for Rayo, having not featured since November due to injury. Fellow defender Antonio Amaya is still a doubt, while Tono and Patrick Ebert are long-term casualties.
Goalkeeper David Cobeno is close to a return after back surgery, but Juan Carlos is still expected to retain his place on the bench as backup goalkeeper to the on-loan Yoel Rodriguez.
Atletico have left five familiar names out of their squad for the first leg against Rayo, with defenders Juanfran, Diego Godin and Filipe Luis omitted as well as midfielder Koke and top-scoring forward Antoine Griezmann.
"Squad list (1/2): Moyá, Oblak, Siqueira, Savic, Gámez, Lucas, Giménez, Kranevitter, Augusto, Gabi... #RayoAtleti #GoAtleti
— Atleti English (@atletienglish) January 5, 2016"
"Squad list (2/2): Óliver, Saúl, Thomas, Carrasco, Fernando Torres, Jackson Martínez, Correa and Vietto #RayoAtleti #GoAtleti
— Atleti English (@atletienglish) January 5, 2016"
Both new signings in midfield are available, however, with Augusto Fernandez and Kranevitter expected to feature at some point. Tiago remains sidelined with a broken leg, but there are no other major injury worries.
Possible Lineups
Rayo (4-2-3-1): Yoel; Chechu Dorado, Ze Castro, Diego Llorente, Quini; Raul Baena, Jozabed; Lass, Pablo Hernandez, Bebe; Manucho.
Atletico (4-3-3): Miguel Angel Moya; Jesus Gamez, Stefan Savic, Lucas Hernandez, Guilherme Siqueira; Augusto Fernandez, Gabi, Partey; Angel Correa, Luciano Vietto, Oliver Torres.
Player to Watch: Augusto Fernandez, ATM
Partey is making the headlines and the recent arrival of Kranevitter is generating excitement, but it should be Augusto who makes the most immediate impact.
"Augusto Fernández stepped for the first time on the grass of the Calderón. #WelcomeAugusto pic.twitter.com/ZjORdagMsS
— Atleti English (@atletienglish) January 5, 2016"
The former Celta Vigo man has excelled over the last 18 months, holding together a side which was impressive in possession but far too open and exploited by attacking sides at times.
His defensive awareness and aggression makes him an obvious fit for the Atletico midfield, but he'll also bring a more inventive passing approach in the absence of Tiago.
That, as well as his experience and his previous time under Simeone, makes him a likely candidate to get an early run of games—but he'll need to impress.
Prediction: Rayo 0-1 Atletico
