PREVIEW: Atlético Madrid aim to turn around mixed Champions League form as they host Union Saint-Gilloise | OneFootball

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Atlético Madrid so far this season in LaLiga or the Champions League. In the Argentine’s 14th season in charge at the Estadio Metropolitano, Diego Simeone’s side have failed to hugely impress in the league and currently sit fourth. They have also only won one of their opening Champions League games so far this season and fell to a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal last time out, a game in which the Gunners hardly looked like they got out of second gear.

Simeone has been the face of Atlético for well over a decade now but this season their performances and results seem more lacklustre and deflated than normal. His side’s defeat to Arsenal compounded a string of below par performances that they will look to wrestle as they host Union Saint-Gilloise.

The Belgians have endured a fantastic few seasons as of late, and the Belgian Pro League champions currently sit in top spot and occupy the play-off position in the Champions League table. David Hubert’s side have fine-tuned their fast paced counter attacking style to perfection.

On the continental front, it has been a tough couple of games for USG though after consecutive 4-0 defeats to Newcastle United and Inter.

Atléti have had their share of luck when it comes to injuries and suspensions this season. Only winger Nicolás González and defender Ilias Kostis are the side’s long-term absentees, with no current date available for their return. With a full strength squad including former Manchester City man Julián Alvarez, Los Colchoneros will need to make their superior quality count and break the malaise which has seemed to have set in at the Metropolitano.

USG also have a fully fit squad and can field their best and strongest against the Spanish giants; only striker Mohammed Fuseini is out as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained in August.

It is a game of major importance to both sides as they look to cement themselves in the top half of this season’s Champions League group stage. A win for Atlético Madrid could take them up to 10th in the table and above former winners Chelsea, while USG could go above Tottenham Hotspur should they leave Spain with all three points.

It wouldn’t be wise to write USG off, however after back-to-back continental hammerings, it wouldn’t be ridiculous to assume that Simeone’s side will have too much quality for the Belgians even despite their lacklustre performances in the competition so far.

Predicted line-ups

ATL: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Hancko; Simeone, Barrios, Koke, González; Alvarez, Sørloth

USG: Scherpen; Mac Allister, Burgess, Leysen; Khalaili, Rasmussen, Zorgane, Niang; Van de Perre, Ait El Hadj; Promise David