Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Given his passionate, driven personality, there is every possibility that Diego Simeone will have spent the international break wondering just how Atletico Madrid managed to lose to relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon two weeks ago.
Atletico were winning 1-0 with 11 minutes to go, only to collapse and slip nine points behind Barcelona in a title race they were never likely to win anyway.
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With Spain’s attention focused on El Clasico this weekend, Simeone will be demanding his team get back to winning ways as they play host to a Real Betis side who are mid-table but still not completely certain of avoiding the drop into the Segunda Division.
Back-to-back defeats have added to a disappointing run for Juan Merino’s side, who have now won just three of their last 17 league matches.
Improvement will be needed if they aren’t to slip straight back down to the Segunda, although whether that will come at the Vicente Calderon is debatable.
Date: Saturday, April 2
Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid
TV Info: beIN Sports 3HD
Live Stream: beIN Sports
Last 6 Results
Atletico Madrid
Won 1-0 vs. Real Madrid
Won 3-0 vs. Real Sociedad
Won 3-1 vs. Valencia
Won 3-0 vs. Deportivo
Drew 0-0 vs. PSV Eindhoven (won 8-7 on penalties)
Lost 2-1 vs. Sporting Gijon
Real Betis
Drew 1-1 vs. Sporting Gijon
Drew 2-2 vs. Rayo Vallecano
Won 3-0 vs. Espanyol
Won 2-0 vs. Granada
Lost 3-1 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Lost 1-0 vs. Malaga
Team News
Atletico Madrid
With players returning from internationals and Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League visit to Barcelona in mind, Simeone has some interesting selection dilemmas, at least he would do if almost all of his centre-backs weren't injured.
First-choice centre-back pairing Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez are doubtful, Stefan Savic has only just returned to training, Lucas Hernandez has a back problem and even makeshift centre-back Saul Niguez has a knock. Simeone has to decide who he can risk ahead of the midweek trip to the Camp Nou, with Savic and Lucas perhaps pressed into service despite not being fully fit.
Elsewhere, Gabi will probably be left out with Barcelona in mind, while Augusto Fernandez could come into the side to replace compatriot Matias Kranevitter in midfield.
Antoine Griezmann should start upfront, but it would be no surprise to see him withdrawn from the action early.
Possible XI: Oblak; Gamez, Savic, Lucas, Filipe Luis; Fernandez, Saul, Koke, Correa; Griezmann, Vietto.
Real Betis
Merino will be desperate to turn things around after a miserable 1-0 home defeat to Malaga last time out, when the visitors struck with just eight minutes remaining to take the points.
The Betis boss is still without injured Italian defender Cristiano Piccini, while the Dutch duo Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Rafael van der Vaart again look like missing out.
Club captain Jorge Molina could come in for the Brazil international Leandro Damiao, who only joined Betis in February and has been facing questions over his fitness.
Possible XI: Adan; Vargas, Westermann, Pezzella, Montoya; N’Diaye, Musonda, Ceballos, Kadir; Castro, Molina.
Key Players
Atletico Madrid: Angel Correa
He isn’t always guaranteed a start in Atletico’s bigger games, but after playing an hour for Argentina against Bolivia in midweek, Angel Correa will be targeting this clash to make an impact ahead of the Barcelona game in midweek.
The 21-year-old has done well this season but will probably want to improve on his goals record of six, and this could be just the game to do that.
Real Betis: Alfred N’Diaye
Whenever you face Atletico Madrid, the midfield battle is always key, and Alfred N’Diaye will be an important man in that battle for Betis.
The former Sunderland player needs to be an effective shield in front of his back four during what will have to be a determined defensive effort from the visitors, and the longer he can help frustrate Simeone’s men the better.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Atletico Madrid—2/9
Real Betis—16/1
Draw—9/2
