The interrogantes of Simeone on the duel with the Barcelona

The Athletic of Madrid prepares for the definite duel against the Barcelona. In spite of that they are the leaders, still are missing five incógnitas to tackle the party that will determine which are his possibilities to be champion of LaLiga

José María Giménez

At present, the possibility that it play is uncertain. The annoyances with which finished the party happened against the Elche and by which was changed in the final stretch put in doubt his presence in the Camp Nou, although Diego Simeone has him a lot of confidence. However, the club rojiblanco has not informed of any concrete injury.

In the return to the trainings of this Tuesday, had alternative session. No it saw him neither to him neither to Renan Lodi, also in doubt by muscular annoyances. If it is in conditions, Giménez will be to title against the Barcelona beside Savic. If it is not smart, Felipe Monteiro would be his acting.

Line of four or five

Although the Athletic has tested to be an adaptable team, even anytime of the party are not odd neither two neither until three changes in the tactical diagram of the appointment. By what arises the doubt of which will be the bet of Simeone to confront to the Barcelona.

In the last parties of LaLiga Santander, has decanted more by the line of four defenders, with two head offices and two sides, but the best moments of the Athletic in this course, included the the one of the first turn against the Barcelona, went with a structure of five men deep down. Like this it acted in the 1-0 to the Barça, of the that went the author of the goal and protected by behind by Mario Beautiful to brake the attacks of Dembélé.

Joao Félix

Félix has problems in his right ankle, first suffered a hit and afterwards a sprain; still it finds in recovery and at present already is more acting that headline in his 17 last parties, of which began nine in the bench, the Athletic longs for the best version of Joao, whose titularity in the Camp Nou sees difficult.

The Portuguese forward has lost his place in between the usual headlines of Simeone, the one who has gone giving him more leadership to Ángel Correa or to Thomas Lemar in parties in front of the Real Madrid, to the Villarreal or the past Saturday in Elche. In front of the Barcelona could occur the same. It will arise like resource, moved away of his best version and extraneous to the confidence that Simeone has in other fixed headlines.

The situation is very distinct in this sense for Joao of the crash of the first turn against the Barcelona to now. In all 2021 has marked two goals, one in the 3-1 to Valencia and another in the 0-2 to the Villarreal, while his last meetings remain diluted in the intranscendencia that had in Elche or a week before in Bilbao.

Continuity of Kondogbia

Simeone Highlighted his "partidazo" against the Elche, but his irruption in the eleven was more by the dosage of Koke Resurrection, because the half centre fichado in November from Valencia neither appears between his preferred. It has played of start four of the 24 possible parties of LaLiga.

But his qualities, his envergadura, his power, the capacity that has to cover space and his performance in front of the Elche manifest the doubt of if will have a place between the headlines for the party in the Camp Nou. But it is little likely, because in the same could be Koke beside Llorente and Lemar.

The position of Llorente

Marcos Llorente has played of almost all the parties of the Athletic, depending on the drops, of the party, of the rival or of the plan designed by Simeone. With all available of half field to forward, the natural is that the midfield player more goleador of LaLiga Santander (12 so many) play like half or right interior, the position in which more it has stabilised in his imponente course. From here, it can attack, defend, desmarcarse and desbordarse with total freedom.

The amplitude of spaces that can handle the Athletic in the Camp Nou offers diverse variants to situate to Llorente, that can play more to the right, as extreme; between lines, with the agitation promoted by his speed and shot to connect with Luis Suárez; or even in the forward beside the Uruguayan.