Valencia vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Unbeaten in their last six games and having not conceded a goal in five, Atletico Madrid head for Valencia in fine form and seemingly without a care in the world.
The professional manner with which they followed up their hard-fought Madrid derby victory at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 3-0 win at home to Real Sociedad in midweek would have pleased Diego Simeone, who now comes face to face with Valencia boss Gary Neville for the first time since both were esteemed players for Argentina and England, respectively.
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For Neville, the joy of four straight victories was checked by conceding three late goals to lose 3-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao last weekend, but that result was followed by an away win at Malaga on Wednesday to take his side into the top half of the table.
The former Manchester United defender may have succeeded in pulling Los Che away from the relegation zone in recent weeks, but in Atletico, he faces one of the toughest nuts to crack in European football right now.
It is a game that he won’t be relishing.
Date: Sunday, March 6
Time: 7.30 p.m. GMT/2.30 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Mestalla, Valencia
TV Info: Sky Sports 2
Live Stream: Sky Sports
Last 6 Results
Valencia
Won 2-1 vs. Espanyol
Won 6-0 vs. Rapid Vienna
Won 2-1 vs. Granada
Won 4-0 vs. Rapid Vienna
Lost 3-0 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Won 2-1 vs. Malaga
Atletico Madrid
Won 3-1 vs. Eibar
Won 1-0 vs. Getafe
Drew 0-0 vs. Villarreal
Drew 0-0 vs. PSV Eindhoven
Won 1-0 vs. Real Madrid
Won 3-0 vs. Real Sociedad
Team News
Valencia
Neville restored Alvaro Negredo to the starting lineup for the clash with Athletic Bilbao, but after he was hauled off before the hour mark following a largely disappointing display, the former Manchester City forward was replaced by Paco Alcacer for the Malaga clash in midweek. In that game, Valencia benefited from a bizarre Carlos Kameni own goal to win 2-1.
On-loan winger Denis Cheryshev grabbed the winner in that game before departing early to prepare for this one, and he is likely to take up a position to the left of Alcacer, with Sofiane Feghouli completing an attacking trio.
Possible XI: Alves, Barragan, Mustafi, Aderlan Santos, Gaya, Andre Gomes, Fuego, Parejo, Feghouli, Cheryshev, Alcacer.
Atletico Madrid
With the victory over Real Sociedad all but secured after an hour of play, Simeone was able to take off Diego Godin, Gabi and Antoine Griezmann before the end, and all are more or less guaranteed to return to the starting XI at the Mestalla on Sunday evening.
Luciano Vietto was also picked to start in midweek and managed to get a rare 90 minutes under his belt, but Fernando Torres could well return to the side in place of the Argentinean.
The back four is likely to be unchanged, with the team perhaps the same as the one that won at Real Madrid last weekend.
Possible XI: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Fernandez, Saul, Koke, Griezmann, Torres.
Key Players
Valencia: Daniel Parejo
One of the first names on the teamsheet whoever the Valencia manager is, Daniel Parejo has found the net eight times this season and will be a key threat from midfield if the hosts are to worry their obstinate opponents—the holders of the best defensive record in La Liga this season.
Formerly of Real Madrid, Queens Park Rangers and Getafe, Parejo has been at home at Valencia since 2011, scoring 12 goals last season and looking well on the way to breaking that record this time around.
He is a crucial player for Neville and one Atletico will need to stop.
Atletico Madrid: Saul Niguez
He was in the squad last season, but this campaign has truly been a breakthrough one for the young midfielder Saul Niguez, who is knocking on the door of Spain manager Vicente del Bosque and pressing for inclusion in his country’s UEFA Euro 2016 squad.
Comfortable in a variety of positions, Saul scored a well-taken goal in the victory over Real Sociedad in midweek and will be looking to support Griezmann and Torres from midfield, making him a threat that the hosts will have to counter.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Valencia 31/10
Atletico Madrid 20/21
Draw 23/10
