Atletico Madrid vs. Celta Vigo: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
The league title may be gone, but you can be sure that Diego Simeone won’t be telling his players to take it easy.
With a UEFA Champions League final to prepare for in in two weeks’ time, the Atletico Madrid manager will have players determined to force their way into his starting lineup when they face Celta Vigo at Vicente Calderon on Saturday evening.
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Simeone would have hoped this would mark a golden ending to what has been a hugely impressive season, but instead it will just be a chance for his team to keep their eye in against opponents who have had a fine campaign themselves.
Needing a win to be certain of finishing fifth, Celta Vigo will hope to call upon memories of their Copa del Rey triumph at the Vicente Calderon earlier this season and will be optimistic given that their hosts are sure to have their minds on Milan to a certain degree.
Date: Saturday, May 14
Time: 6.30 p.m. BST/1.30 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid
TV Info: BeIN Sports, Sky Sports 3 (red button only)
Live Stream: BeIN Sports
Last 6 Results
Atletico Madrid
Won 1-0 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Won 1-0 vs. Malaga
Won 1-0 vs. Bayern Munich
Won 1-0 vs. Rayo Vallecano
Lost 2-1 vs. Bayern Munich
Lost 2-1 vs. Levante
Celta Vigo
Won 1-0 vs. Sporting Gijon
Drew 1-1 vs. Real Batis
Drew 1-1 vs. Espanyol
Won 2-1 vs. Granada
Lost 2-1 vs. Athletic Bilbao
Won 1-0 vs. Malaga
Team News
Atletico Madrid
Although there is nothing to play for on the face of it, Simeone might use this last match before Milan as a chance to test the majority of the XI he will want to pick to face Real Madrid at the San Siro, with Antoine Griezmann certain to come into the side after being left on the bench for the disastrous loss at Levante.
With Simeone still banned from the touchline, he could recall Diego Godin in place of Stefan Savic, whilst another key decision he could face is whether or not to go with the more attacking Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco or stick with the more defensive Augusto Fernandez.
Fernandez might get the nod for the Champions League final, but Ferreira-Carrasco could play here.
Possible XI: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Fernandez, Koke, Ferreira-Carrasco, Griezmann, Torres.
Celta Vigo
Celta manager Eduardo Berizzo will want to bow out of what has been a fine season with another impressive performance, but he’ll have to make do without the suspended Gustavo Cabral in his attempts to do so.
Fontas, Nestor Diaz and Claudio Beauvue are also all missing, with Berizzo likely to call upon the majority of the side that beat Malaga 1-0 last time out.
That means Iago Aspas will start up front, with Nolito, Pablo Hernandez and Fabian Orellana operating behind.
Possible XI: Blanco, Castro, Mallo, Gomez, Planas, Diaz, Wass, Orellana, Hernandez, Nolito, Aspas.
Key Players
Atletico Madrid: Antoine Griezmann
If Atletico Madrid are to use this as a clash to get up to speed for the Champions League final, then getting Griezmann firing will be a must.
He holds the key to them getting the better of Real Madrid in the San Siro, and if he can grab a goal or two and improve upon his fine return of 31 strikes this season, then Real Madrid are certain to be quaking in their boots ahead of Milan.
Celta Vigo: Iago Aspas
At the opposite end of the pitch will be Iago Aspas, who has enjoyed a fine season back at Celta Vigo after somewhat losing his way following a move to Liverpool and then loan to Sevilla.
The forward has scored 18 goals this season and will be the focal point of a Celta attack that will perhaps get a few more chances than they would have done had this match really mattered to Atletico, who might just not be at their fearsome best.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Atletico Madrid 1/3
Celta Vigo 8/1
Draw 3/1
