Atlético is going through the most fragile defensive moment of the season. Four consecutive days of the League fitting, in the last two twice, and that against Celta it was difficult for the victory to escape in the last minute. The rojiblanco team had only started once with the scoreboard against in the first 16 matches in the league, in the derby against Real Madrid where they ended up losing 2-0. But in these last four duels he has had to come back in three, conceding the same goals as in the entire previous season.
Against Eibar (1-2) and Valencia with success (3-1), and against Celta without the final prize because of Ferreyra’s goal. A slump over Oblak’s goal that coincides with the absence of a beautiful Mario that he had adapted to perfection behind three centrals. Shifted to the left, he was the player who was able to get the ball played and who was best able to move towards his natural leg and stop the rival attacks. The Madrilenian was killed in Ipurua due to a sprain and has missed the duels against Cádiz and Celta due to coronavirus.
Now he is waiting to give negative in the next tests to join the group and participate with the team again. In his absence, Felipe has occupied the left profile of the defense, but has not been successful at all. With a changed leg he suffers a lot leaving the site, with meters behind him he commits unnecessary fouls and against Celta he had to be substituted at half-time to avoid being sent off. In Cádiz, Cholo moved Felipe’s position with Giménez, but the Uruguayan, who is used to playing outlined to the left in a four-sided defense, is not comfortable on the line of three on that side either.
Hermoso has been gaining prominence this season until it ends up being a basic piece in this new system, where without him he loses part of his essence, closing with three. He is the most different central of the four, and the only left-handed. Whether it can be in Granada will depend on its evolution. The one that will surely continue without being able to do so is Trippier, who continues to cross out the days to play again. Sanctioned until the end of February, the loss of English has also opened a hole in the right wing. Simeone is testing to cover it, placing Llorente there, previously Carrasco, Vrsaljko and even Giménez. But the Croatian is not in good shape and Llorente loses many of his characteristics there, although he always complies.
Global problems in defense that are not only due to absences, but where casualties are putting their finger on the wound. If the former Espanyol center back returns this weekend it will be great news for Simeone. Cholo indicated that “the numbers are there to look at and worry. They are scoring us quite a few goals in these last games, four in a row and we will have to improve in an important facet of the team that at the moment it is not so firm. “Part of recovering that solvency can come with the return of a Beautiful one who started the course with a secondary role and has made a molded hole for him, where he is lamenting his absence. Seeing Trippier again will have to wait a few more weeks.