Atletico Madrid will be looking to continue their brilliant run of form as they prepare for a trip to Celta Vigo. Diego Simeone’s men are unbeaten in La Liga in 2015 and will go into Sunday’s match on the back of their biggest win over Real Madrid since 1947.The result also meant that Atleti are now unbeaten in six derbies against their local rivals this season, however Antoine Griezmann, who scored the third in last week’s victory, has insisted they cannot dwell on the result and must remain focused on Sunday’s game:
“We’ve had two days off now and now we’re back with enthusiasm again to get better and focus on Celta Vigo. We know it’s going to be a difficult game because they play good football – we’ll have to be ready. If we can stay strong at the back and produce a Madrid-esque performance in attack, I’m sure we’re going to do well,” he said earlier this week.
Defender Joao Miranda was similarly cautious about the trip north, and insisted the side were taking it “one game at a time”.
“If you’ve been watching us training, you’d have thought we’d lost,” he said at Thursday’s press call.
“We’ll keep working hard and keep our intensity high, because that’s how we must be to take anything from our upcoming games. It’s how we must play from the first minute to the last.”
Los Rojiblancos have already come unstuck against the Galician side this season with a 2-2 draw at the Vicente Calderon in September, although they haven’t lost in the league at Balaidos since 2005.
Meanwhile the home side will have Serbian midfielder Nemanja Radoja back after a groin injury kept him out of last week’s 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad.
Celta sit in tenth place in La Liga but are only six points above the relegation zone, however they are on a good run of form and haven’t suffered a league defeat since January 3rd. And Striker Joaquin Larrivey has vowed to end his drought in front of goal against the champions. The Argentine forward has failed to score since November, but has insisted he is getting back to goalscoring form:
“I am very keen to get back to scoring goals. It’s been a while since I scored one in La Liga and that’s not something I’m used to.
“I’ve already had the opportunity to score against Atletico with Rayo and hopefully I can repeat that with Celta.”
Atletico could go within one point of leaders Real Madrid with a victory, while a Celta win could move them as high as eighth.
Celta is not a push over. Atletico will need to stay focused or they will lose points and the chance to repeat as La Liga champions.