Atletico Madrid will be aiming to end a three-game winless run in all competitions when they resume their La Liga campaign at home to Leganes on Sunday afternoon.
Diego Simeone's side have only been victorious in one of their last four domestic matches, but they still sit third in the La Liga table, while Leganes are 17th, having picked up eight points from their nine league games this term.
Match preview
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Atletico are still unbeaten in La Liga this season, winning four and drawing five of their nine matches to pick up 17 points, which has left them third in the table, but they are already seven points off the leaders Barcelona.
Simeone's team have only won one of their last four in the league, which was a 1-0 success over Celta Vigo at the end of September, drawing their last two in Spain's top flight against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
While Atletico are unbeaten in the league this term, they have suffered a heavy defeat in the Champions League, going down 4-0 to Benfica at the start of the month, which has put pressure on them to pick up a positive result when Lille head to Wanda Metropolitano in the Champions League next week.
A busy end to the month will also see Atletico visit Real Betis in La Liga, before beginning their Copa del Rey journey for the 2024-25 campaign away to Vic on October 31.
The Red and Whites have only netted 13 times in their nine league games this season, but they have once again been difficult to score against, conceding only five times, which is the best defensive record in the division.
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Leganes, meanwhile, boast a record of one win, five draws and three defeats from their nine league matches this season, with a total of eight points leaving them in 17th position in the table.
Finding the back of the net has been an issue, only managing five goals, which is the joint-worst offensive record in the division alongside Valencia, but they have only conceded nine, suggesting that this weekend's contest in the Spanish capital could be a low-scoring affair.
Leganes will need to find a way to put wins on the board if they are to avoid the drop this season, but the fact that they have only lost a third of their league games in 2024-25 is a huge positive.
Borja Jimenez's side will actually bring a three-game unbeaten run into this match, sharing the points with Getafe, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia since their last defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the middle of September.
El Lega actually managed to hold Atletico to a goalless draw when the two sides last locked horns in January 2020, while Atletico's last two wins over the promoted outfit have only been 1-0.
Team News
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Atletico will be without the services of three players for their first match after the October international break, with Marcos Llorente, Robin Le Normand and Cesar Azpilicueta on the sidelines.
There are expected to be changes from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Sociedad, with Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino likely to come into the side.
Alexander Sorloth has found it difficult to make his mark for Atletico, though, only managing one league goal this term, and he is likely to again be on the bench, with Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez operating as the front two.
As for Leganes, Naim Garcia is a doubt due to a muscular problem, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape.
Renato Tapia and Matija Nastasic are both being tipped to return to the squad after recent issues, while there have not been any fresh concerns reported during the international break.
Head coach Jimenez could decide to name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Valencia, although there might be a change in the final third, with Miguel de la Fuente potentially being given the nod over Sebastien Haller.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Lenglet; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez
Leganes possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Rosier, Saenz, Gonzalez, Hernandez; Neyou, Cisse; Cruz, Lopez, Alti; De la Fuente
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Leganes
A lot of the signs are pointing towards a low-scoring affair on Sunday, and we are expecting that to be the case. It would be a surprise if Atletico did not win this fixture, but Simeone's side might have to be patient, with the winning goal potentially coming in the second half of the clash at Wanda Metropolitano.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
