Atlético de Madrid finished their final training session in Majadahonda on Friday, preparing for Saturday's match against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium. The day was marked by the absence of two players who were also not present on Thursday: captain Koke and the American Johnny Cardoso.
Koke, who has been a key centerpiece of the team, returned to working out in the gym after the loss of his mother on Tuesday morning. The duel with Manchester United, scheduled for the night, was canceled due to his absence. Coach Diego Simeone will have to decide whether to include him in today's squad before leaving for Barcelona. For his part, Cardoso remains at home recovering from an illness that, according to indications, will leave him out of the game against Espanyol. This situation represents a setback for the coach, who was taking advantage of the midfielder's recent best form.
The rest of the squad was available and participated in a session that began with rondos and physical activation exercises. Subsequently, they focused on the tactical part, refining the strategy for the match at the RCDE Stadium. Last season, Atlético lost the match after going ahead on the scoreboard, which has motivated the team to look for a strong response on this visit.
With the game scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Atlético de Madrid heads to Barcelona with the intention of overtaking Espanyol and consolidating its position in the table. The absence of Koke and Cardoso will be a factor to consider in the final lineup that Diego Simeone will define before his trip.