ATLÉTICO MADRID NEWS

Jose Maria Gimenez - Makes squad to face Valencia Gimenez (knee) has been named in the squad for Saturday's match against Valencia.

Impact Gimenez will be able to make his 2023/24 season debut after taking part in training with no setbacks this week, though there's a chance he comes off the bench given his lack of minutes. Even if it's on a limited capacity, his return should provide quite a boost to the team on the defensive zone.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Thomas Lemar - Makes squad to face Valencia Lemar (strain) is in the squad to face Valencia on Saturday.

Impact Lemar started in Atletico's first two matches in central midfield, and while he missed the game against Rayo Vallecano, he should slot right into the starting lineup against Valencia on Saturday with both Koke (hamstring) and Rodrigo De Paul (thigh) ruled out.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Caglar Soyuncu - Out against Valencia Soyuncu (groin) is not in the squad for Saturday's match against Valencia.

Impact Soyuncu returned from international duty with a groin issue, and with a heavy calendar upon Atletico Madrid in the coming weeks, the coaching staff decided not to risk him. His next chance to feature will come Tuesday next week in the UEFA Champions League opener against Lazio.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Koke - Not returning this weekend Koke (hamstring) is not in the squad for Saturday's match against Valencia.

Impact Atletico Madrid will be missing quite a few players due to injury this weekend in their trip to Mestalla, and they'll be particularly thin in midfield depth since Rodrigo De Paul (thigh) is out as well. Koke's next chance to return will come in the UEFA Champions League opener against Lazio next Tuesday, or against Real Madrid in the upcoming weekend.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Memphis Depay - Won't face Valencia Depay (thigh) is not in the squad for Saturday's match against Valencia.

Impact Depay picked up the injury in Atletico's most recent league game before the international break, and there's no clear timetable for his return. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to return for the Champions League opener against Lazio next week, and if he doesn't feature there, then he'd have his sights set in facing Real Madrid next Sunday in league play.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rodrigo De Paul - Not in squad for Saturday De Paul (thigh) is not in the squad for Saturday's match against Valencia.

Impact De Paul picked up the injury in training after his return from international duty with Argentina, and with the UEFA Champions League debut on the horizon, head coach Diego Simeone opted not to risk him. Muscular injuries are often tricky, though, and it remains to be seen where he will be eligible to return. Atletico's upcoming matches are against Lazio in the Champions League on Tuesday and against Real Madrid next Sunday in league play.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rodrigo De Paul - Suffers thigh injury De Paul picked up an injury in training ahead of Saturday's match with Valencia, the team reported.

Impact De Paul's status for Saturday's match is in question after picking up a thigh injury while in training this week. There has been no further report on the severity of the injury or any timetable given for his return. He may be able to give it a go on Saturday, but that will depend on his training building up to the match. If he is not able to play, expect Saul to step in, with Thomas Lemar and Koke also being options if they are determined to be fit before the match.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Maria Gimenez - Returns to training Gimenez was back in training on Wednesday ahead of Saturday's match against Valencia.

Impact Gimenez looks to be closing in on a return to the pitch after participating in team training for the first time this season. The defender underwent knee surgery in May and has been sidelined since then. He probably will not be rushed back into action and will remain out for these next couple of matches, but when he does return, expect him to take back his starting spot, sending either Mario Hermoso or Axel Witsel to the bench.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Caglar Soyuncu - Being checked for groin issue Soyuncu came back from international duty with Turkey with a groin injury, the club announced Thursday.

Impact The club's statement indicated that Soyuncu was still being evaluated but at this point, he should be considered doubtful at best for Saturday's clash with Valencia. Prior to the international break, the defender featured exclusively off the bench, logging a combined 45 minutes in two appearances. As such, Soyuncu's potential absence shouldn't be expected to significantly impact the club's starting XI for Saturday.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Stefan Savic - Ever-present as center-back Savic has started and played 90 minutes in each of Atletico's three games in the 2023/24 LaLiga campaign so far, racking up eight interceptions, six clearances, five blocked shots...

Impact Savic has started every game so far for Los Colchoneros at the back, just like Mario Hermoso, and he figures to remain in an important role for manager Diego Simeone, regardless of what might happen when Jose Maria Gimenez (knee) is eligible to return to action. His consistency as a starter shouldn't surprise, as Savic has registered at least 20 starts in each of his previous league campaigns as well.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pablo Barrios Rivas - Emerging as depth option Barrios has started once and has played off the bench twice in three 2023/24 LaLiga rounds so far, racking up 10 interceptions, eight tackles, four clearances and three inaccurate...

Impact Barrios was handed his first LaLiga start against Rayo Vallecano during a 7-0 win on Aug. 28, and he has been emerging as a potential long-term replacement for Koke (hamstring). That said, Atletico have one of the deepest rosters in the league and features plenty of options in midfield, so Barrios might stay as a depth option in the short-term, which should limit his fantasy value considerably.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mario Hermoso - Regular starter on defense Hermoso has started all three matches for Atletico Madrid in the 2023/24 LaLiga season, racking up 13 clearances, eight tackles, four interceptions, three crosses, two shots and tw...

Impact Hermoso joins a list of Atletico Madrid players who have started all three league matches, including Antoine Griezmann, Stefan Savic, Rodrigo De Paul and Jan Oblak, as well as Yannick Carrasco, but the latter already left the club. Hermoso also ended the 2022/23 campaign as a starter, and nothing suggests he'll lose his spot in the lineup even when Jose Maria Gimenez (knee) is ready to return.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Caglar Soyuncu - Yet to start in LaLiga Soyuncu has made two appearances off the bench in the 2023/24 LaLiga season, racking up four clearances and one interception across 44 combined minutes of play.

Impact Soyuncu joined Atletico Madrid in the summer to provide depth on defense and that's exactly what he's done, but the former Leicester star has yet to start for his new club. With multiple options to handle the center-back roles, his time as a starter might come when Diego Simeone starts rotating the squad, and that might happen sooner rather than later with the UEFA Champions League starting shortly after the international break.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cesar Azpilicueta - Playing multiple positions Azpilicueta has started in two of Atletico Madrid's three matches in the 2023/24 season, racking up one shot on target, two chances created, five tackles (one won), two interceptio...

Impact Azpilicueta offers positional flexibility for head coach Diego Simeone, as he can play both as a center-back and as a right-back regardless of whether the team fields three, four or five defenders. Still, his path to a starting role is not completely clear, with Nahuel Molina pushing for starts at right-back and options such as Stefan Savic, Mario Hermoso and Caglar Soyuncu, as well as the injured Jose Maria Gimenez (knee), for the three centre-back spots.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Axel Witsel - Playing as center-back Witsel has made two starts during the 2023/24 Liga campaign and both have come as a center-back, racking up one shot, one chance created, seven clearances, three blocked shots, thr...

Impact Witsel has spent most of his career playing as a central midfielder for both club and country, but given his traits, it's not surprising to see him move into a role on central defense, where his instincts, ball-playing ability and height suit quite well. Given manager Diego Simeone has already said he envisions Witsel as a defender, he's expected to continue in that center-back role going forward.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla postponed due to heavy rainstorm forecast Atletico Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Sevilla at the Metropolitan Stadium has been postponed due to the heavy rainstorm forecast in Madr...

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Barcelona acquires João Félix on loan from Atletico Madrid on final day of transfer window

Barcelona says Portugal forward João Félix will join the Spanish champion on loan from Atletico Madrid for this season.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Barcelona sign Joao Felix and Cancelo on loan Barcelona have signed Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo on season-long loan deals. Joao Felix, 23, joins from Atletico Madrid while Cancelo, 29, m...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Memphis Depay - Sustains thigh injury Memphis suffered a thigh injury against Rayo Vallecano on Monday.

Impact At this point, Memphis should probably be considered out indefinitely with the team's release not providing much in the way of timeline. With the international break upcoming, it's possible the forward won't be out of action beyond Sunday's clash with Sevilla. With Memphis on the shelf, Alvaro Morata figures to step back into the starting XI after featuring in the season opener against Granada.

AUGUST 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Angel Correa - Scores off bench Correa scored one goal and assisted once from one shot and one chance created in Monday's 7-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.

Impact Correa entered the match as a substitute in the 76th minute, having recovered from an injury sustained in the opening league fixture. His impact was immediate, as he chipped in a goal in the 79th minute and later provided an assist with a well-timed through ball in the 84th minute.

AUGUST 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Saul Niguez - Provides assist in win Saul assisted once to go with zero corners and two chances created in Monday's 7-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano.

Impact Saul picked up his first assist of the season, as he delivered a beautiful one-touch through ball to Alvaro Morata. The midfielder also recorded his first two chances created of the season, and his first three clearances.

AUGUST 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Atletico Madrid routs Rayo Vallecano 7-0 in Spanish league

Antoine Griezmann has scored two minutes into the match and Atletico Madrid never looked back in a 7-0 rout of Rayo Vallecano for its biggest ever away win in the Spanish league

AUGUST 28, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marcos Llorente - Scores in win Llorente scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) in Monday's 7-0 win versus Rayo Vallecano.

Impact Llorente secured Atletico's seventh goal in a one-sided victory. He scored in the 87th minute after a deflection left him open in the box, and he beat the goalkeeper with a well placed shot. This match marked his first appearance off the bench this season, and he has now scored twice, a significant improvement compared to his solitary goal last season.

AUGUST 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nahuel Molina - Scores goal in win Molina scored one goal to go with two shots (one on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Monday's 7-0 win versus Rayo Vallecano.

Impact Molina made his first appearance this season after recovering from an injury, and he notched his first goal of the tournament. It came after a long through ball from Rodrigo De Paul placed him with a clear shot in front of the goalkeeper. In addition to his goal, the wing-back also delivered a cross.

AUGUST 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rodrigo De Paul - Provides a pair of assists in win De Paul assisted twice to go with two shots (zero on goal), three crosses (one accurate) and three chances created in Monday's 7-0 win against Rayo Vallecano.

Impact De Paul notched a pair of assists in the first half, setting up Antoine Griezmann and Nahuel Molina. Those marked the first assists of the season for the midfielder. He also achieved season-highs in chances created and crosses sent in.

AUGUST 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE