Atletico Madrid vs Granada

La Liga top-four hopefuls Atletico Madrid and relegation-battling Granada will lock horns in a high-stakes league encounter at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico Madrid survived a late drama against Espanyol at the weekend, eking out a 2-1 home triumph in dramatic fashion, courtesy of a 100th-minute spot-kick. With fellow top-four rivals Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Betis all suffering defeats last time out, ‘Los Colchoneros’ will feel confident of securing a tenth consecutive Champions League qualification. Another win over lowly Granada would further solidify their position in the top-four run-in, and after winning 17 of their last 18 home La Liga H2Hs (D1), this should be another day in the office for Diego Simeone’s side. Moreover, the reigning Spanish champions have racked up seven wins from their eight previous home league matches (L1), including the last four in a row – their longest winning league streak at Wanda Metropolitano this season.

Meanwhile, Granada head into this matchday on a run of consecutive La Liga defeats, including a thumping 4-1 loss to fellow relegation strugglers Levante last time out. After winning just once in 14 La Liga outings (D3, L9), the visitors go into the season finale stuck in the drop zone, two points adrift of safety. They will unlikely improve their underwhelming form here, having won just one of their last 22 La Liga meetings with Atletico (D5, L16). What’s more, Aitor Karanka’s touchline debut at Granada will see the new manager try to sweeten his side’s indifferent all-time away record in La Liga fixtures played on Wednesdays (European time – D2, L3). Conceding first would likely send the ‘Nazaries’ packing, as they’ve gone winless in all ten La Liga away games when shipping the opener this season (D3, L7).