After their poor outing in the Champions League last Tuesday, Atletico Madrid return to La Liga action this Saturday as they take on newly-promoted Girona at Wanda Metropolitano for their eighth league game of the season.
Venue: Metropolitano Stadium (Madrid)
Key Statistics
Atletico Madrid are currently on their worst seven-game start to a La Liga season in four years (W4, D1, L2).
The hosts recorded just one commanding 2+ goal victory from six meetings against newly-promoted sides last season (W4, L2).
They have conceded 83% of their league goals this season at home (5 goals).
Atlético have conceded no first-half goals in ten of their last 11 LL matches (W7, D2, L1).
Girona are winless away from home in the league this season (D1, L2).
They have scored just two goals away from home this season.
The visitors have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight competitive games.
Girona goalkeeper Juan Carlos Martín has completed 13 consecutive La Liga starts without a clean sheet.
Head to head
Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in six meetings against Girona (W1, D5).
Latest performances in all competitions
Atletico Madrid: L-W-L-L-W
Girona: L-L-W-D-L
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid will be looking to make to bounce back from their recent defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League when they welcome Girona to the Estadio Metropolitano.
The hosts have been on a poor run of form lately which has seen them pick up just one win in their last four games in all competitions. Los Rojiblancos lost their second game on the bounce in the Champions League when they fell to a 2-0 loss to the Belgian side Club Brugge on Tuesday night, a loss which now sees them sitting bottom of Group B.
However, Diego Simeone’s side secured a 0-2 win over Sevilla in their last La Liga action to climb into fifth place in the La Liga standings two points behind fourth-placed Real Betis. The Argentine manager will now look to make it two wins in two by beating Girona to continue their climb up the La Liga table.
Atletico Madrid have only managed one win in their last five encounters with Michael Muñoz’s side, with the rest ending in a draw. The capital-based club know they have to put in a better performance than they have done of late to secure all three points.
Possible Atletico starting line-up
Jan Oblak; Nahuel Molina Lucero, Stefan Savic, Jose Gimenez, Reinildo Mandava; Marcos Llorente, Koke, Axel Witsel, Saul Niguez; Joao Felix, Alvaro Morata.
Injured: Felipe Monteiro
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Girona
Girona played out an entertaining eight-goal thriller at home against Real Sociedad in their last La Liga action.
Rodrigo Riquelme’s wonder goal hauled Girona back on level as the goals continued to flow before the interval, with Arnaud Martinez, and Sortloth tying the clash at 2-2 after 45 minutes with his second strike of the night.
However, it was the visitors who were to take all three points after scoring three goals in the final 30 minutes to bring the tie to 3-5, despite Taty Castellanos giving the host the lead immediately after the restart of the second half.
With eight points, Girona sit in 13th place in the La Liga standings, three points away from the relegation zones. Head coach Michael Muñoz will now take his team to the Spanish capital keen to see his side avoid dropping further points as they fight to stay in the top flight beyond this season.
But with one win in their last five games, Girona come into this game low on momentum and faces the daunting task of overcoming their more fancied opponents.
Possible Girona starting line-up
Juan Carlos; Arnau Martinez, Bernardo Espinosa, Juanpe, Santiago Bueno, Miguel Gutierrez; Aleix Garcia, Oriol Romeu, Rodrigo Riquelme; Manu Vallejo, V. Castellanos.
Injured: David Lopez, Borja Garcia, Jesus Carvalho, Christian Stuani,
Doubtful: Ibrahima Kebe
Suspended: None
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Girona
