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- Full strength Atleti squad travels to Rome
The squad list for Atlético Madrid’s first Champions League group stage match has been released and it’s all hands on deck for Diego Simeone. The only notable absence from the squad is Augusto Fernández, who picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty with Argentina.
It will be interesting to see the lineup for the match, and how Simeone manages minutes for some of his key players. Mundo Deportivo say that Šime Vrsaljko is set to start in Rome after he was dropped at the weekend, and Antoine Griezmann will rejoin the XI for the first time since Aug. 19. Cholo also closely monitored Kévin Gameiro during Sunday’s training session; MD theorize that he could partner Griezmann at Stadio Olimpico.
The match with AS Roma on Tuesday is certainly a big one, but it is tough to overlook the debut of the Wanda Metropolitano looming this weekend. A result on the road in Rome would be huge, but we’ll have to see if the desire for a cracking opener at A Stadium Called Wanda may influence squad rotation.
- More Costa rumblings
A handful of reports suggest continued movement on the Diego Costa transfer front. Citing rumors from England, Mundo Deportivo report that Costa has moved, or is planning to move his family to Madrid. Though no deal is in place, Costa has made it abundantly clear that the only club he wishes to play for is Atlético.
Further rumors indicate that an Atleti delegation has gone to London to push though a deal with Chelsea for the player.
An unfortunate side effect of the club’s registration ban is that the club has had no incentive to get a deal for Costa done quickly. As a result, we fans must endure a seeming purgatory of a transfer saga, despite the fact that the relevant transfer deadlines have already passed.
- Giovanni Simeone scored his first goal for Fiorentina on Sunday.
- Talking point:
How would you like to see Simeone balance the upcoming matches? Should we go all in for a result against Roma? Or is a win to open the new stadium a more important consideration?