Atletico Madrid will be looking to make a winning start to their 2020-21 La Liga campaign when they welcome Granada to Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts are yet to begin their league season due to their involvement in the latter stages of the Champions League, but Granada have played twice in La Liga this term, picking up six points to top the table.
Match preview
Atletico finished third in La Liga last season, but the capital outfit were never in the race for the title, ultimately ending the campaign 17 points behind the champions Real Madrid.
Too many draws (16) prevented Diego Simeone's team from launching a title challenge, but they only lost four of their 38 matches and will be determined to push high up the table in 2020-21.
Atletico ended their league season with a 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad on July 19 before suffering a 2-1 loss to RB Leipzig in the quarter-finals of the Champions League to exit the competition.
Luis Suarez has incredibly arrived at the club this summer, with the 33-year-old being allowed to link up with Simeone's side due to being made surplus to requirements at Barcelona.
The Uruguay international could debut against Granada on Sunday, and Atletico will be determined to put two La Liga wins on the board before the end of September.
Granada, as mentioned, have made an impressive start to their 2020-21 campaign, opening with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on September 12 before beating Alaves 2-1 on home soil last weekend.
Diego Martinez's side enjoyed a brilliant 2019-20 campaign, picking up 56 points from their 38 matches to finish seventh in La Liga and ensure that they would be present in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.
Granada's placing of seventh was actually their highest finish in La Liga since 1973-94, and they are on the brink of qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League, having overcome both Teuta Durres and Lokomotiv Tbilisi.
Indeed, El Grana will face Malmo in the playoffs next Thursday knowing that a victory would see them book their position in the group stages of Europe's second competition.
For now, though, the early pacesetters in Spain's top flight will be focused on putting a third straight league victory on the board, potentially making it an unhappy debut for Suarez.
Atletico Madrid La Liga form (end of 2019-20): DWDWWD
Granada La Liga form (start of 2020-21): WW
Team News
Atletico will be unable to call upon Jose Gimenez for their first game of the season as the Uruguay international is currently isolating at home following a positive coronavirus test.
As a result, Felipe is expected to start alongside Stefan Savic at the back, while Marcos Llorente could line up alongside Saul Niguez in the middle of the park due to the uncertainty surrounding Thomas Partey's future.
Alvaro Morata has joined Juventus on loan, while Diego Costa could be moved on this summer, meaning that Suarez is likely debut alongside Joao Felix in the final third of the field.
As for Granada, Neyder Lozano is a doubt for Sunday's contest due to a muscular problem, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape when it comes to injuries.
Martinez handed a starting role to Kenedy in the Europa League on Thursday night, but Antonio Puertas is expected to return to the XI for this game, while the same can be said for Yangel Herrera.
Domingos Duarte and Dimitri Foulquier are also likely to be back in the starting side following the European encounter, but experienced striker Roberto Soldado should again lead the line.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Trippier, Savic, Felipe, Lodi; Koke, Llorente, Saul, Carrasco; Suarez, Felix
Granada possible starting lineup:
Silva; Foulquier, Vallejo, Duarte, Neva; Milla, Gonalons; Machis, Herrera, Puertas; Soldado
We say: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Granada
Granada's start to the season has been excellent, but they are yet to face a team of Atletico's calibre. Simeone is sure to have his players fired up on the opening weekend of the season, and we fancy the capital outfit to shade a close encounter at Wanda Metropolitano.
Top betting tip
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