Atlético Madrid-Real Valladolid: Possible XI, prediction and how to watch LaLiga Santander 2020

Atlético Madrid will look to gain more steam in the top-four race when Real Valladolid come to town for Saturday night football.

This has been a whale of a week for Atlético. Not only did Los Rojiblancos pound Osasuna 5-0 on Wednesday, but Diego Simeone’s men will have been further buoyed by Getafe’s goalless draw versus Espanyol on Tuesday and Real Sociedad’s 2-0 loss at Deportivo Alavés on Thursday. Atleti have built a two-point cushion over Getafe and La Real — and Sevilla’s 1-1 draw against Levante on Monday means Atleti are now just two points off third place.

Sergio’s Valladolid should stay up for another season, seeing as it has one of the league’s better defensive records and is eight points clear of the drop zone. The Ronaldo-owned side enter this match 15th and nabbed a deserved point in the first meeting way back in October.

Possible XI Oblak; Trippier, Giménez, Savić, Lodi; Thomas, Saúl, Koke, Llorente; Félix, Morata.

Predicted scoreline 2-0 Atlético. The visitors have managed reasonably well away from home this season, taking points in eight of 15 fixtures on the road. Enes Ünal is a big, bruising forward who has given Atlético problems in the past, while Jordi Masip is a respected goalkeeper and the team’s leader. Of course, center back Mohammed Salisu has had a standout year, and he likely is on the move when the transfer window reopens.

But Valladolid have the league’s second-worst goal return and have taken points only nine times from 42 league games against Atleti in the capital. Simeone’s team should have (will have?) received a big lift from Wednesday’s emphatic win, and will return to an empty Wanda Metropolitano with enough options to bag three more points.

My record on the season 21-19

Date June 20, 2020

Location Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain

Kickoff time 10:00 p.m. CET, 9:00 p.m. GMT, 4:00 p.m. EST, 1:00 p.m. PST

Available TV/streaming Movistar LaLiga 1 (Spain), LaLiga TV (United Kingdom), beIN Sports (United States), Eleven Sports 1 (Portugal), ESPN (Brazil), beIN Sports 1 (Australia), SuperSport 7 (Ghana), PPTV Sport (China)