Manchester City is gearing up to take on Atletico Madrid in their final pre-season friendly on Sunday, August 9, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in South Korea. This match serves as a crucial tune-up before their Community Shield encounter against Arsenal scheduled for August 16.
The kick-off for this highly anticipated fixture is set for 12 PM BST. As both teams prepare for the upcoming season, this match will provide valuable insights into their respective squads and strategies.
In terms of team news, Manchester City will be without several key players. Erling Haaland remains with the Norway national team following their World Cup campaign, while midfielder Rodri is recovering from back surgery performed on July 28. Additionally, Rayan Cherki, Marc Guéhi, Elliot Anderson, and Nico O’Reilly are unavailable due to their commitments to their national teams.
Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips have been excluded from the Asia tour entirely, with speculation surrounding their potential departures from the club. Manager Enzo Maresca is expected to implement significant squad rotation, providing opportunities for new signings and fringe players to showcase their abilities. Omar Marmoush, who impressed in a previous friendly, may lead the attack, supported by Phil Foden and Savinho in advanced positions. Other players like Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Matteo Kovacic, and Tijjani Reijnders are also in contention for starting roles as City aims to enhance their fitness and tactical cohesion ahead of the Community Shield.
On the other side, Atletico Madrid will also be missing several players due to World Cup obligations. Julián Álvarez is still in Argentina, while Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, Álex Baena, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Alexander Sørloth are absent. Marcos Llorente, Alex Baena, Marc Pubill, and Juan Musso are similarly unavailable, leaving head coach Diego Simeone with a mix of experienced players and new signings.
New arrivals Lee Kang-in and Morten Hjulmand may make their debuts in this match, although Lee's participation is still uncertain. Simeone is likely to field a lineup featuring seasoned players such as Jan Oblak, José María Giménez, Robin Le Normand, and Koke, with Ademola Lookman expected to play a pivotal role in the attack. This friendly offers Simeone an opportunity to evaluate his squad depth and integrate new players before the La Liga season kicks off.
As for their recent form, Manchester City enters this match with a mixed pre-season record. They managed a draw against Inter Milan on August 1, which ended in a penalty shootout loss, but bounced back with a 3-1 victory over the K-League All-Stars on August 5. Goals from Omar Marmoush, Savinho, and Phil Foden highlighted their attacking prowess, and they will aim to build on this momentum against Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid has also experienced a varied pre-season, suffering a 2-1 loss to Manchester United on August 1 but rebounding with a convincing 4-1 win over Getafe on August 5. With one win and one loss in their last two friendlies, Simeone has utilized these matches to test new signings and integrate younger players into the squad ahead of the La Liga season.
Fans can catch the action live in the UK via Manchester City’s official CITY+ streaming platform, ensuring they don’t miss this exciting clash between two European heavyweights.
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