Iñigo Pérez’s Villarreal face early test at Atlético after dramatic Santander recovery | OneFootball

Iñigo Pérez’s Villarreal face an early examination at Atlético on Sunday, 17:00, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, live on Dazn. After last weekend’s 2-2 at El Sardinero, sealed with two goals in 67 seconds from 2-0 down, they seek improvement.

El Periódico Mediterráneo notes that under predecessor Marcelino García they fared poorly at the heavyweights’ grounds, losing clearly at the Spotify Camp Nou, Santiago Bernabéu, La Cartuja, Signal Iduna Park, BayArena and Atlético’s home. Pérez now brings a different feel.

In Santander the coach said his players showed defensive and attacking passivity, yet they also reacted impressively. The squad travelled without Alassane Diatta, who has just completed a suspension from the end of last season with Villarreal B. Sergi Cardona and Gerard Moreno made the trip despite issues after missing the previous day’s session, while Willy Kambwala stayed to finalise a move to Como.

The line-up looks set to mirror the draw with Racing. Carlos Maciá could replace Santi Comesaña, who is short of his best, and with the club’s belief in the Elche-born midfielder, a little over a week from turning 18, a start is not ruled out.

Atlético remain formidable despite many, Spaniards and Argentines, joining late after the World Cup final. They began on Wednesday at home to Málaga, rescued by fine strikes from substitutes Kang-In-Lee and Álex Baena, the latter via a free-kick. Without Alexander Sorloth or Cuti Romero, Diego Pablo Simeone is weighing up Marcos Llorente, Álex Grimaldo and his son Giuliano, who could start.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”