Atletico Madrid looks to advance while Bayern rests players

Atlético Madrid must rebound. Bayern Munich is simply seeking to get some relaxation. Atlético will catch a break within the Champions League on Tuesday by internet hosting a Bayern squad that has already certified and can pass over a few of its high gamers for the Group A match.

The defending champions, who gained their first 4 matches and have already assured first place within the group, will make the journey to Madrid with out striker Robert Lewandowski, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder Leon Goretzka.

“They are important players,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick mentioned Monday. “Goretzka and Lewandowski have been injured, and if they are not at 100%, it’s better to leave them home.”

Bayern has struggled with fatigue and accidents in a packed schedule because it gained the Champions League title in August.

Midfielder Corentin Tolisso additionally gained’t journey due to a minor harm, and Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich nonetheless haven’t recovered from their illnesses.

Reserve goalkeeper Alexander Nübel will probably be making his European debut for Bayern after enjoying principally in cup matches till now.

“He has made a good impression and has shown his quality in training,” mentioned Flick, whose crew routed Atlético 4-Zero at dwelling of their first group match.

The sport on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium means little to Bayern however might be decisive for Atlético, which is just two factors in entrance of third-place Lokomotiv Moscow. A win might be sufficient if the Russian crew is held by Salzburg, however a draw or a loss towards Bayern might go away Atlético relying on different ends in the final spherical.

Lokomotiv hosts last-place Salzburg within the different group match on Tuesday.

Atlético beat Salzburg to rebound from the loss to Bayern in Germany however is coming off two consecutive attracts towards Lokomotiv.

“It’s still Bayern Munich, it’s a great team regardless of who plays,” Atlético captain Jorge “Koke” Resurrección mentioned. “Sometimes players who don’t get many minutes will be extra motivated to show what they can do. We will need to play a nearly perfect match to defeat them.”

The crew coached by Diego Simeone is in good kind within the Spanish league, having gained six in a row to remain some extent behind chief Real Sociedad with two video games in hand. Simeone nonetheless doesn’t know if he’ll be capable of depend on striker Luis Suárez, who just lately examined positive for the coronavirus whereas on Uruguay responsibility.

“This virus is strange,” Simeone mentioned. “Maybe tomorrow he will test negative and can be available to play. He has been practicing and wants to help his team. But we’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

Atlético, which eradicated Liverpool within the spherical of 16 final season, has just one loss in its final 28 European video games at dwelling — to Chelsea within the group stage of the 2017-18 season. The Spanish membership is unbeaten at dwelling in 20 matches in all competitions, since dropping to Barcelona 1-Zero within the Spanish league a yr in the past.

Bayern’s solely loss in in its final 25 European matches within the 2018-19 season, 3-1 at dwelling towards Liverpool within the spherical of 16. The German powerhouse is unbeaten in 15 away video games in European competitions — one sport shy of Manchester United’s competitors document. Bayern’s final defeat in Europe was within the 2017-18 group stage towards Paris Saint-Germain. The German membership has gained 10 immediately matches in Europe.