Atletico also have reason to seek revenge as they were eliminated from the Champions League for the second consecutive season by Madrid in their last meeting back in April. But Griezmann and Torres are holding up Atletico’s attack while sharing time with the so far unproductive newcomers.
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Coach Diego Simeone has struggled to find the right balance after another summer of upheaval in the Atletico playing squad and Tiago is confident that the 2014 Champions League finalists will eventually hit form.
That’s actually Benfica’s only ever away win versus a Spanish side.
The goal sparked angry scenes on and off the field as Benfica fans hurled flares onto the Atletico fans sitting in the tier below them.
Real could, however, bring captain and defender Sergio Ramos back into the fold.
The chance to rebound will come Sunday at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, against Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Colombian should be back by the end of this month.
Atleti would have ended up tied with Barcelona at the top spot if they managed to pull off a win against El Submarino Amarillo, but instead they were moved down to the fifth spot.
Chilean worldwide custodian Claudio Bravo could return in Seville, while Uruguyan star striker Luis Suarez, who has been the standout performer in the last two games, will be again called on to deliver, especially as iconic midfielder Andres Iniesta has joined Barcelona’s long injury list.
But, even with Ronaldo on the precipice of history, this is largely the same Atletico side that lost only one of eight matches against Real in every competition last season and decisively owned an 11-3 advantage on the scoreboard.
“We know that the game on Sunday is always the game of the year for Atletico and we will have to play well”, the former Liverpool man warned after Real saw off Malmo 2-0 in the Champions League in midweek.
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The value in backing the hosts is further enhanced when one accounts for the fact that Atlético’s overall home record against Portuguese opposition is W5 D2 L1 and they beat FC Porto home and away in the 2013/14 group-stage.
