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Diego Simeone will once again bank on Super Eagles forward Admola Lookman to find his spark in tonight’s Copa del Rey 1st leg semi-final clash against Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.
Simeone could in fact start Lookman against Barcelona, as the Argentine coach tested the possibility of Lookman playing as a winger or support striker on Atletico’s final training session on Wednesday morning lasting over an hour and a half in Majadahonda , held in the light rain.
Recall there were mixed feelings of results for the Nigerian in his first two games against Betis since joining from Atalanta.
With Nico González back in the squad, Cholo only needs two more key players (Cardoso and Barrios). Barrios is crucial because he’s the midfield maestro, while Cardoso was expected to be his backup were it not for the injury-plagued situation he’s facing, like Vitolo . Therefore, the Argentine manager could opt for the same lineup he used in La Liga last Sunday against Betis: Mendoza, who arrived from Elche this winter, starting alongside Koke, who at 34 is playing every minute. Musso, not Oblak, is Cholo’s starting goalkeeper in the Copa del Rey.
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In midfield, Griezmann would complete the trio, playing as an inside midfielder behind Lookman, Julián, and Giuliano. Baena and Sorloth are to be rested for the match.
The attacking players, except for Griezmann, in fact, did individualized work in the first part of the session on an adjacent pitch where Giuliano, Baena, Sorloth, Julián and Lookman were training.
Thus, the starting eleven Simeone tested was: Musso; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Mendoza, Koke, Griezmann; Giuliano, Julián, and Lookman.
