Ultimate Guide to La Liga Weekend: Atletico Madrid with Defensive Conundrum
The title fight will continue for a while yet, but Barcelona beating Atletico Madrid in the top-two clash last weekend certainly tips the balance in the Catalan side's favour.
Luis Suarez didn't just have an impact by scoring the winning goal in the match, he was also a buzzing menace throughout with his runs off the ball, his quick feet and his ability to beat the Atleti defenders to the ball—and therein lies the problem for Diego Simeone's team this weekend.
For some time, they have looked one of the most rounded sides not just in La Liga but in European football, lacking only perhaps an additional "killer" in the penalty box, but now the defensive aspect of their squad is set to be tested to the limits—quite possibly against their own striker. Borja Baston has been one of this season's biggest breakout stars, hitting 15 goals for Eibar—no Spanish forward has scored more.
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On loan at the Basque side, Eibar know they will have to pay €150,000 to play Baston in the fixture against his parent club this weekend; it's not a huge amount for most, but to tiny Eibar, that will be an enormous outlay for a single performance. Weighing up that cost against their ongoing battle for European places will be a difficult decision to make, especially as they must view Atleti as vulnerable like never before.
Simeone's team have not won in four, were knocked out of the Copa del Rey last week and then lost that big title game against Barcelona—and they'll play at home to Eibar without three-quarters of their first-choice defence.
Diego Godin was sent off for two ludicrous challenges on Suarez, Filipe Luis has received a three-match ban for his studs-up challenge on Leo Messi and Juanfran is suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Add into the mix Guilherme Siqueira leaving on loan for Valencia late in the transfer window and Augusto Fernandez being out injured for two months, and the back line and its immediate protection is suddenly looking extremely thin.
Simeone has little choice: Jesus Gamez and Lucas Hernandez will play at full-back, with Stefan Savic to partner Josema Gimenez. Unless a youth option is called up from the B team, only Saul is left in the senior team to cover any defensive position, but he has been an impressive mainstay in midfield. Opportunity may knock for Thomas, Oliver Torres or Matias Kranevitter, but above all else, Atleti need to win, and that means scoring goals.
Of course, with Jackson Martinez having just departed for China, Atleti are a little light in that department, too. It'll be a tough week for the manager, but he has forged a reputation for eking every ounce of effort from his players as well as tactical surety and winning the games that matter most. It might not capture the headlines of last week's match, but this one is arguably even bigger for Atletico in the context of their season.
Jornada 22 (kick-off times per Soccerway)
Friday
Malaga vs. Getafe
Saturday
Atletico Madrid vs. Eibar
Rayo Vallecano vs. Las Palmas
Athletic Club vs. Villarreal
Sporting Gijon vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Sunday
Levante vs. Barcelona
Real Betis vs. Valencia
Celta Vigo vs. Sevilla
Granada vs. Real Madrid
Monday
Espanyol vs. Real Sociedad
What to Watch out for this Weekend
Part 1: Luis Enrique looking to Pep's record
Barcelona's irresistible performance against Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-final in midweek saw them win 7-0, racking up a 27th straight game without defeat for the Catalan side under Luis Enrique.
Not since October 3 have they lost a match, that coming against Sevilla, and the 27 matches thereafter have yielded five draws and 22 wins. One more game without defeat this weekend will see Luis Enrique equal Pep Guardiola's record of 28 without a loss, the current club record—he's already level with Rinus Michel's best.
Tasked with trying to stop the Barca machine attaining their latest record is bottom club Levante, who have won their last two home fixtures and are four points from safety. If Barcelona do win or draw, they'll have the opportunity to eclipse Pep and set a new club record of 29 in a row undefeated with the second leg of the semi-final against Valencia next week.
Part 2: Top-four pretenders
Could Athletic cut the gap and emerge as the biggest threat for fourth place? Could Sevilla actually win away from home? Could Valencia actually win anywhere?
The race for European spots is interesting every year, but this term it looks as though Villarreal's first-half-of-the-season consistency could be enough to keep them clear. They are eight points ahead of Sevilla, who still haven't won on the road this term, while Athletic's reasonable consistency also keeps them in touch.
At San Mames this weekend, much about Villarreal's fortitude and resilience will be tested—but more on that shortly.
Player to Watch: Isco, RMA
James Rodriguez came back into the Real Madrid team last weekend and played well in the rout of Espanyol, but Isco has been in the side with greater frequency under manager Zinedine Zidane, and his last couple of performances have been closer to what is expected of him.
Playing in an advanced central-midfield role, Isco has to continue showing the drive and power to surge forward quickly—Luka Modric is the one who breaks the lines with his passing most frequently, but Isco's running with the ball should also become a big feature of Real's midfield play. He has the technique to create or shoot from around the box and only when he adds more end product to his game will he really be considered a starter for the team.
Until then, it's still a weekly battle for a spot, so games like this weekend's—at Granada—are custom-made for Isco to shine with the space he'll be afforded and a leaky back line to attack.
Game of the Weekend: Athletic Club vs. Villarreal
Athletic's aggression and direct attacking; Villarreal's tactical set-up and technique through midfield. This is a game as tactically intriguing as it is important for the top-four chase, and the key point is that the Basque side have to go all-out for the win if they carry any lingering hopes of Champions League football.
With Inaki Williams in good form, Iker Muniain working his way back and one or two others contributing to the Athletic front line, it's a good moment to watch them even without Raul Garcia available. Villarreal's entire front six is worth watching; the link play between Roberto Soldado and Cedric Bakambu is truly top-drawer at times, and with Bruno and Denis Suarez in good form in the midfield quartet, the Yellow Submarine can pass their way through any side.
Even a home win will see Villarreal remain clear in fourth, but it would bunch things up a little and give Sevilla and Co. hope, too.
Predictions and Tips
- Home wins: Malaga, Atletico Madrid, Sporting, Espanyol
- Away wins: Valencia, Barcelona, Real Madrid
- Both teams to score: ATM-EIB, ATH-VIL, BET-VAL, CEL-SEV
