Atletico Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they head to Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes on Monday evening to tackle Granada.
Diego Simeone's side are currently fifth in the La Liga table, boasting 38 points from their opening 19 matches of the campaign, while Granada are 19th, five points from the safety of 17th position.
Match preview
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Granada have won two, drawn five and lost 13 of their 20 La Liga matches this season to collect 11 points, which has left them in 19th position in the table, five points behind 17th-placed Sevilla.
The Andalusian outfit were promoted back to Spain's top flight for the 2023-24 campaign courtesy of their Segunda Division success last term, and they will be bidding to consolidate back at this level of football.
Granada have found it difficult for long stages of the season, though, with the team very much in the relegation mix at this stage of the campaign.
Alexander Medina's side managed to record a 2-0 win over Cadiz in their last game in front of their own supporters on January 3, but they will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis.
Granada have the fourth-worst home record in La Liga this season, but 10 of their 11 points have come in front of their own supporters, with the team particularly finding it difficult on their travels.
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Atletico, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 4-2 win over Real Madrid in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey on Thursday evening.
Simeone's side suffered a 5-3 defeat to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on January 10, but they were able to gain some revenge in the latest Madrid derby in the Copa del Rey.
Atletico have not been in La Liga action since suffering a 4-3 defeat to division leaders Girona on January 3, and they are off the pace in Spain's top flight, currently sitting fifth in the table, boasting 38 points from 19 matches.
The Red and Whites are three points behind fourth-placed Barcelona and 11 from the leaders Girona, who have played a game more, and securing a Champions League spot for next season is the minimum requirement for an Atletico side also chasing success in the Copa del Rey and Champions League this term.
Atletico, who have only won three of their nine away league matches this season, recorded a 3-1 victory in the reverse match at Wanda Metropolitano back in August, but they lost 2-1 to Granada on their last visit to Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes in La Liga on December 2021.
Team News
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Granada will again be missing goalkeeper Raul Fernandez on Monday evening due to a muscular problem, while recent arrival Martin Hongla is ruled out of the contest through suspension.
Ricard Sanchez is back from a ban of his own, though, and the 23-year-old will return to the starting side.
Lucas Boye and Myrto Uzuni have scored nine goals between them this season, and the pair will continue in the final third of the field, while six-goal Bryan Zaragoza, who is joining Bayern Munich this summer, will again feature off the right for the home side this weekend.
As for Atletico, Thomas Lemar is still out with an Achilles injury, while Cesar Azpilicueta is facing a long period on the sidelines with a serious knee problem.
The Red and Whites will also be missing Reinildo, with the defender representing Mozambique at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nahuel Molina is expected to come back into the starting side on Monday, with the Argentine likely to line up as the right-sided wing-back against Granada.
Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann were both impressive against Real Madrid last time out, and the pair are set to continue in the final third of the field against the strugglers.
Granada possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Sanchez, Piatkowski, Miquel, Neva; Zaragoza, Ruiz, Villar, Callejon; Uzuni, Boye
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Saul, Lino; Morata, Griezmann
We say: Granada 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Granada's best performances have come at home this season, while Atletico have not been too impressive on their travels. Granada will also be the fresher of the two sides, but we are still expecting Simeone's side to navigate their way to an important three points in Monday's fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
