Diego Simeone held a training session at Atlético’s Cerro del Espino base in Majadahonda as he prepared for the first leg of the Copa del Rey Mapfre semi-final against FC Barcelona, using the session to test a potential starting eleven. The lineup trial contained an unexpected omission.
The main surprise was the absence of Baena from the working eleven. It appears the coach may be saving him for the second leg, keeping him on the bench together with Sorloth to preserve a Plan B for the tie. That raised eyebrows because Baena was brought in to be a key player: he scored at the Camp Nou and had been performing strongly until he was sidelined by injury.
In the drill Musso occupied the goal. In front of him Simeone used the defensive line that started in the Copa match against Betis: Llorente, Pubill, Hancko and Ruggeri.
The biggest doubts concern midfield. In the rehearsal Koke was positioned as the pivot, Rodrigo Mendoza was used on the right interior, and Griezmann on the left interior — the latter a role he had already filled last Sunday.
Up front Simeone tried Giuliano on the right, Julián Álvarez through the middle and Lookman on the left. Sorloth would remain on the bench as an option for the second half.
Therefore, the possible Atlético starting lineup against Barcelona would be: Musso; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Mendoza, Koke, Griezmann; Giuliano, Julián Álvarez, Lookman.
