Sat Nov 30 22:23:28 UTC 2024: ## Atlético Madrid Aim for Seventh Straight Win Against Struggling Valladolid

**Valladolid, Spain** – Riding a six-game winning streak, Atlético Madrid travel to face bottom-of-the-table Real Valladolid on Saturday, looking to extend their winning run to seven and close the gap on league leaders Barcelona. Atlético’s 6-0 demolition of Sparta Prague midweek showcased their impressive form, and a victory at the José Zorrilla stadium would put them just two points behind Barcelona, who suffered an upset loss earlier in the day.

Despite Atlético’s dominant form, manager Diego Simeone remains focused on his team’s performance, downplaying the title race implications. “We look at ourselves, we try to improve and grow as a team day by day,” he stated.

Valladolid, however, presents a significant challenge. Sitting at the foot of the La Liga table with just nine points from 14 games, the club is under immense pressure to avoid relegation. Their struggles are evident in their paltry goal tally (10) and leaky defense (27 goals conceded). This contrasts sharply with Atlético’s impressive defensive record, boasting the league’s best defense with only eight goals conceded.

Atlético holds a significant advantage in head-to-head matchups, having won their last five encounters against Valladolid. Simeone acknowledges Valladolid’s competitiveness but expects his team to match their intensity.

While Robin Le Normand remains sidelined with a brain injury, Antoine Griezmann is set to start alongside Julián Álvarez in attack, potentially the only change from the team that thrashed Sparta Prague. The match kicks off at 9:00 p.m. CEST and will be televised on ESPN+ (US) and DAZN (Spain).

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