Atletico Madrid is preparing for a tough match against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium on Saturday, amid complex circumstances the team is facing due to numerous absences and physical fatigue following the intense encounter against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, in addition to the upcoming decisive return match in London.

The team is suffering from significant absences, with up to six first-team players out due to injuries and fatigue, which puts the Argentine coach Diego Simeone in a difficult position.

Due to this situation, Simeone is leaning towards relying on a mix of first-team players and a large number of academy players. Young names like Iker Luki, Ryan, Julio Diaz, and Poniar are expected to appear in the lineup, with the possibility of Molina being included in the midfield. Meanwhile, the attacking line is potentially led by a duo of Almada and Baena, with Griezmann's experience being counted on from the bench.

The lineup is expected to be more of an "emergency lineup" featuring Oblak as the goalkeeper, with a defense line mixed with experience and youth. Atlético is striving to get through this challenging phase without further losses ahead of the anticipated European clash against Arsenal, making the match against Valencia a true test of the team's depth and resilience.