Elche CF-Atlético de Madrid: do you feel excited?

Atlético de Madrid is a winning machine, a fireproof team that could perfectly well be the fittest team in Europe today. With an enviable squad in which everyone is equally important, Diego Pablo Simeone broke his own record of consecutive victories last Sunday, achieving a whopping 14 wins in the last 14 games. Cholo is cautious, prudent, but it is inevitable not to think that this team can achieve something great at the end of the season with the great performance it is doing. At this point in the season, not even the psychics draw accurate conclusions, but the truth is that Atlético de Madrid is scary and, if they continue like this, they could be a serious candidate for all the titles.

Saúl and Falcao with the Copa del Rey in 2013 (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

With the focus almost always on Liga y Championsoften the Copa of the King It takes a backseat, people forgetting the importance and prestige of this competition. The Cup is a title that the Colchonera fans really like, who experienced one of the best nights in their history more than a decade ago with the achievement of the last cup title in the Bernabeu. Today, that competition so beloved by the red and whites returns to its old ways with two teams that know each other well, despite having not faced each other for years, in a duel that promises to be nice and tight and in which anything can happen.

He Elche CFdespite having spent a few years in the hell of Second Divisionis one of the mythical LaLigaa strong and rocky team, especially at home, that already knows what it is to face the Atlético de Madrid of the Cholo Simeone. The people of Elche receive the Colchonero team with the hope and enthusiasm of being able to eliminate them and advance in a tournament in which they hope to go as far as possible. His fort, the Martinez Valeroaims to blow up his audience tonight to encourage his team in what could be a true feat in the club’s recent history.

XI of Atlético de Madrid on their last visit to Martínez Valero (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

However, a Atlético on a streak he will try to strike down the men of Sebastián Beccacece with an orderly and lethal team like the one they have been presenting in recent times against very high-level rivals. Julian Alvareztop scorer for the rojiblancos this season, will be the main offensive asset of an Atlético in which players like Rodrigo de Paul and Pablo Barrios They manage the team’s game wonderfully. Below, a recovered Robin Le Normand wait to meet his partner in the rear axis with Clement Lenglet and Josema Giménez being called off at the last minute due to sudden injuries in the team’s last two league games.

Simeone will have to go around the partner The Norman in the central duo, but the XI aims to be similar to this:

Goalie: Oblak (Juan Musso had discomfort, although he has entered the squad).

Defenses: Molina, Le Normand, Witsel, Galán.

Midfielders: Giuliano, Barrios, De Paul, Gallagher (Lino can come in on that side given that he had good minutes against Osasuna).

Fronts: Griezmann and Alvarez.

For his part, the Elche aims to date:

Goalie: Miguel San Roman.

Defenses: Alvaro Nunez, Affengruber, Pedro Bigas and Jose Salinas.

Midfielders: Josan, Aleix Febas, Nico Castro, Nico Fernández and Yago Alonso.

Front: Agustín Álvarez.

The energy and ‘feeling’ of this competition differs from what you may find in any other tournament. The Copa It has something, magic, a different mystique that infects the fans and makes it a special tournament that everyone wants to celebrate every season. Tonight’s duel aspires no less, with two competitive teams eager to continue advancing towards the goal. Although he Atlético de Madrid part as favorite in the King’s Cup Anything can happen, having already seen several surprises with ‘Firsts’ eliminated in the preliminary rounds. Seeking tonight the fifteenth consecutive victory, among the murmur of the red and white fans, a common message and thought can be seen that is shared by almost everyone: Do you notice me excited?