Atletico Madrid vs. Eibar: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online

The champions hope to rebound from an opening week draw as they return home for the first time this season.

Atlético Madrid make their first appearance at home this season as they host Eibar at the Vincente Calderón on Saturday. The defending champions looked fatigued in their draw against Rayo on Monday, and lacked any creative spark in the attack. With head coach Diego Simeone serving the second game of his eight match ban, Los Colchoneros will look to prove they can win without their charismatic boss prowling the sidelines.

Key Player: Gabi (Atlético Madrid)

Gabi is not Atléti offensive engine, and he's not the most talented or influential (in terms of play) midfielder on the pitch in red and and white. He is the team's captain and an important part of allowing the attack to operate effectively by anchoring the center of the pitch. Atléti looked lost on Monday against Rayo, and they really could use Gabi to step up, especially with Simeone suspended, and be a general on the pitch.

Key Matchup: Atléti's midfield vs. Eibar midfield

Rayo dominated Atléti in the midfield during their match last week and disrupted the flow that Los Colchoneros tried to create. It certainly didn't help that they looked tired after their Spanish Super Cup win over Real Madrid, but it's rare that Simeone's team gets pushed around. The possession numbers really didn't matter as Atléti aren't a ball control team, but the fact that they were struggling to move the ball forward and connect with the attack was worrisome. A strong performance by the midfield would help ease concerns.

Atlético Madrid injuries and suspensions

Out: Arda Turan (thigh) In Doubt: Raúl García (knock).

Eibar injuries and suspensions

Out: None

Arda Turn remains sidelined with a torn muscle in his thigh and likely will need another week or two to recover. Raúl García is expected to return to the lineup after struggling last week with a knock. Eibar's roster is healthy ahead of the match.

Match Date/Time: Saturday, 9 p.m. local, 3 p.m. ET

Venue: Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain

TV: Sky Sports 5/HD (U.K.), Canal+ Liga/HD (Spain)

Online: beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.), beIN Sports CONNECT (Canada), Gol Stadium (Spain)

Listings via LiveSoccerTV.

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