Eibar vs Atletico Madrid match preview and predictions for Thursday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Atleti aim to go 7 points clear at the top.
- DATE: Thursday 21st January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:30 (local time)
- STADIUM: Ipurua
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Eibar vs Atletico Madrid Preview
Atletico Madrid’s title pursuit takes them to Ipurua on Thursday night. With Barcelona and Real Madrid in Copa del Rey action this week, this is one of Atleti’s two remaining games in hand and a golden opportunity to go seven points clear at the top of LaLiga.
Eibar, forever the plucky underdogs in this league, will be intent on bursting their bubble. The Basque minnows have struggled at Ipurua this season but did finally claim their first home win in their most recent home outing. They beat Granada 2-0 but have since suffered a league defeat at Levante and crashed out of the Copa del Rey against third tier Navalcarnero.
With 19 points on the board, Eibar will be at the halfway point after this match and are perhaps exceeding expectations to some extent this term after many tipped them for the drop. That’s not to say they aren’t in a relegation battle but given their limited summer investment and a couple of key departures, José Luis Mendilibar once again deserves great credit for making Eibar competitive at this level.
It’s one year ago this week that Atletico Madrid came to Ipurua and lost 2-0 in LaLiga. Those were quite dark times with some even questioning whether Diego Simeone’s time at the club was coming to an end, but they really have improved in the twelve months that have passed since.
Indeed only Real Madrid have defeated Atleti in LaLiga since last January’s trip to Eibar. They head into this game having won five on the bounce in the league and they’ve already undone the damage caused by a Madrid derby defeat in December, the only one of Atleti’s last 13 league games that they haven’t won. They will have to take on this game without Kieran Trippier and most likely Mario Hermoso, two players who have been key in their successful switch to a 3-5-2, which will provide Diego Simeone with something of a tactical conundrum.
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Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 1 Eibar Win, 3 Atleti Wins, 2 Draws.
- The sides haven’t met in 12 months since Eibar’s 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid last January at Ipurua.
- Eibar had never previously beaten Atleti in LaLiga.
- Diego Simeone’s side had won on 4 straight league visits to Ipurua before last season.
Team News
Bryan Gil, who has emerged as arguably Eibar’s most important player, is an injury doubt, along with Rober Correa.
Kieran Trippier and Koke are suspended for Atleti while they have injury doubts over both Hector Herrera and Mario Hermoso.
Predicted Eibar Starting Lineup:
Dmitrovic – Arbilla, Bigas, Oliveira, Pozo – Gil, Exposito, Diop, Inui – Kike, Enrich (4-4-2)
Predicted Atletico Madrid Starting Lineup:
Oblak – Lodi, Gimenez, Savic, Vrsaljko – Carrasco, Saul, Llorente, Correa – Felix, Suarez (4-4-2)
Eibar vs Atletico Madrid Predictions
Score Prediction: Eibar 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid have evolved considerably since losing here this time last year and they now travel with the belief that they will win matches, which was rarely the case last season. Kieran Trippier’s ban is back in place while Koke is also suspended which makes this one a bit trickier but that will offer what should be a fired up Saul a chance to prove a point, and we ought to see the visitors pick up all three points again.
Eibar vs Atletico Madrid Betting Tips (18+)
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