This is not the kind of away trip Atlético would usually want to dress up as a statement game. The Ciutat de Valencia has never been one of those grounds where the club strolls in with easy memories and a sense of comfort. So when Simeone’s XI for Levante-Atlético landed with Kang In alongside Julián Alvarez, the message was clear enough: Atlético are not here to play safe, they are here to take the game on.
The selection also carries a second, more intriguing twist. Pubill is used as a central defender, which tells you this is not a conservative, by-the-book setup. Simeone has gone with 11 players, but the shape of that XI matters more than the number itself. Choosing Kang In instead of Jonathan David is the sort of call that can look either inspired or reckless depending on how the evening unfolds. That is the nature of bold team selection: it buys you upside, but it also hands you a very public verdict if the game goes sideways.
A line-up with intent, and a few risks attached
There is a reason this announcement matters beyond the usual pre-match noise. Atlético are one victory away from Simeone reaching 344 wins, the total that would place Luis Aragonés as the most successful coach in history. That is the kind of milestone that adds weight to every selection. It turns a routine league fixture into a small piece of club history, and it is exactly why the coach’s choices will be scrutinised so closely.
There is also the setting around the match, and it is not minor. Before kickoff, a minute of silence was planned for the victims and injured in Urda. This jornada also brings a new referee element, with the CTA planning flash interviews for Levante-Atlético, and De Burgos Bengoetxea scheduled to speak after the match in that format. Add in the AEMET yellow warning in Valencia until 18.00, and this is a fixture with more moving parts than the average league game.
Still, the football point remains the main one: Simeone has chosen a line-up that tries to do something rather than merely survive. Kang In beside Julián Alvarez is the headline choice. Pubill at centre-back is the structural gamble. If Atlético leave Valencia with a result, it will look like conviction. If not, this will be remembered as one of those nights where the coach tried to be clever and paid for it.
Either way, the starting XI has already done its job: it has made Levante vs Atlético Madrid feel like more than just another date on the calendar.
