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Hjulmand suspended: Koke or Llorente alongside Barrios?
Rubén Uría prefers Koke with Barrios to avoid giving the ball away in the build-up
Koke. Photo: Club Atlético de Madrid official website
Against Bayern, Rubén Uría backs Koke and Barrios in midfield. One panellist prefers Llorente and Barrios, keeping the captain in reserve for the second half.
Rubén Uría explains his preference: Marcos Llorente would do a job in the engine room, but against a side of Bayern's calibre Atlético must avoid being caught out in the build-up and must not lose possession. That is why, from the start, he favours a Koke-Barrios pairing over Llorente-Barrios.
One of the panellists disagrees. He would start with Llorente and Barrios and keep Koke in reserve for when the tempo needs changing, as could have happened in the second half against Real Madrid. He argues that if Koke starts, you are left without alternatives, and that any change would force a reshuffle of the full-backs and some intricate juggling.
He adds one final reason: there is no urgency to win, and if Koke were to suffer a relapse, he could also be lost for the game against Barcelona. That is why he would rather have him on the bench and see how things unfold.