Diego Simeone believe say Julian Alvarez fit bring ‘different dimension’ to Atletico Madrid attacking play, and the forward fit make him first league start of season against Alaves.
Atleti come out from international break second for table with 16 points from seven games, five points behind early pacesetters Barcelona, wey get perfect record.
Simeone side win 2-1 derby over Real Madrid before the break, and their early results come even though Alvarez never start any league game this season.
After he publicly push for move to Barca during summer transfer window, Alvarez only play three times as substitute so far, and own supporters boo am after 2-2 draw with Villarreal in August.
But after he appear in all three of Argentina games during international break, including Lionel Messi farewell match against Benin, Alvarez fit start when Atleti visit Estadio de Mendizorroza on Saturday.
Simeone talk about Alvarez: ‘I see him in good shape, enthusiastic, and he get desire to give everything he get, as he always do. When he dey good shape, he dey give us different dimension for attack.’
Atleti attacking options fit still improve with Alexander Sorloth and Pablo Barrios returning. Sorloth miss start of season with muscle issue, Barrios suffer lower leg issue in opening Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
Simeone talk about that duo: ‘They dey work very well, and they go take part for match. We hope they give their best, as each of them give us different options for play.’
Dem also ask Simeone for him reaction to Messi final international appearance, but he no fit choose between the 39-year-old and Diego Maradona, two of him compatriots.
‘I no go enter game of choosing one of them. I get chance to play with Maradona, but I no get chance to play with Messi,’ Simeone talk. ‘We Argentines grateful say we live through era of best players for football history. Messi surpass every possible limit and handle everything with respect.’
‘As Argentine, I thank am for everything he give us, but most important na wetin he teach us about fighting. He teach us say when things go wrong, we must keep moving forward.’
Alaves also start season positively, sitting sixth for table with 11 points from opening seven games. But dem no win last three matches, draw 0-0 with Athletic Club after back-to-back defeats to Racing Santander and Valencia.
Players to watch. Alaves – Lucas Boye. Boye commit more fouls pass any other player for LaLiga this season without receiving single yellow card (15), but striker combative style fit be major strength for Alaves against tough opponents.
Atletico Madrid – Giuliano Simeone. Giuliano Simeone don involve for four goals in him last six LaLiga games (two goals and two assists), as many as he manage in previous 21 appearances for competition (two goals and two assists).
Match prediction: Atletico Madrid win. Alaves never win any of their last four LaLiga games against Atletico (D2 L2), though dem earn points from three of teams’ last five meetings (W1 D2 L2), after losing nine of previous 11 (W1 D1).
Indeed, Simeone side never win on their last four league visits to Alaves (D2 L2), and dem fit now equal their longest winless away run against them for competition, after failing to win on first five trips between 1954 and 2002 (D1 L4).
Overall, Atleti win just one of their last seven away games against Basque teams for LaLiga (D4 L2), though that one na 3-0 victory against Real Sociedad in their last such match.
Alaves never win any of their last three LaLiga games (D1 L2), failing to score in last two of those, and dem never go three or more consecutive games without scoring for top flight since April 2024 (L3).
Atleti score 16 goals in first seven games this season, their third-highest tally at this stage in last 13 campaigns, after netting 18 in 2023-24 and 17 in 2020-21.
Opta win probability: Alaves – 24.6%, Atletico Madrid – 50%, Draw – 25%.
Norwegian international striker Alexander Sorloth set to play him first competitive minutes this season in upcoming weekend since World Cup. Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone confirm news ahead of Saturday away match against Alaves.
This also mean say he fit feature on Tuesday against Manchester United for Champions League. Like Pablo Barrios, Sorloth ready to play again.
‘They don work very hard and will get to play for match. Hopefully, they fit give us their best during time wey dem go get on pitch,’ Simeone talk, according to Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo. ‘Each of them offer us different options for our play. Sorloth, in particular, provide balance in area of game wey team otherwise lack,’ Atletico boss add.
Striker never play since Norway eliminated by England for World Cup quarter-finals on 11 July. Sorloth sustain muscle injury in early August.
Trondelag native never dey contention to join national squad wey recently play four Nations League matches.
When he injure, Atletico state say Sorloth go sideline for three weeks but injury turn out more complicated than expected.
