Thursday, March 8th. Twenty-five thousand, four hundred and eighty-six tickets sold. Forty-one thousand on the waiting list. Atlético Madrid were coming to Selhurst Park.
[Europa League Round of 16, First Leg. Kick-off 20:05 GMT.]
[Referee: Felix Brych (Germany).]
[Sarah: 17 matches of Atlético logged. Set-piece briefings issued.]
Sarah was in the tactical room when I walked in at one. Sleeves rolled up. Coffee in a chipped Selhurst mug. The laptop open to a frozen frame of Atlético defending a corner against Sevilla.
"Vrsaljko's deeper since they moved into the Wanda," she said. "Hasn't bombed on once in their last four. Griezmann drops into that space instead, combines with Costa underneath."
"So we don't track him."
"Aaron steps. Ibu holds. Already talked to Aaron yesterday."
"Pato?"
"Godín. Won't get a yard of room. He'll try to make Pato fight for everything, foul him into the ground if the ref lets it go."
"Good. James in the half-spaces second half."
