Atlético Madrid are in dire need of three points when they take on the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field on Thursday.
Atléti’s first appearance at the Club World Cup started with a miserable 4–0 defeat to the irresistible European champions in the stifling Californian sun, as Paris Saint-Germain continued from where they off in Munich.
However, things may well have panned out differently had Julián Alvarez’s strike, which would’ve halved their deficit, not been ruled out for a foul on Désiré Doué following VAR intervention. Alexander Sørloth also missed a sitter, which could’ve brought Diego Simeone’s side back into the game.
Eventually, Atléti were overpowered and reduced to ten men.
Despite their heavy defeat, the La Liga side will be confident of bouncing back here against a Seattle team that were also beaten on Matchday 1. The Sounders’ resurgence arrived too late against Botafoga, who claimed a 2–1 victory, but there was reason for encouragement off the back of their second half showing at the weekend.
Can they pull off a major upset on home soil?
Here is guide to this Club World Cup fixture.
