Atlético chase seventh straight win at Levante, Lee out of trial XI

📰 Off to their best start in 13 seasons, Atlético go for a seventh straight league win at Levante. 📌 Key points 📅 Atlético visit Levante at 2pm on 31 October. 📈 25 points from 10 games equals their best start in 13 seasons. 🇰🇷 Simeone reportedly tested an XI without Lee Kang-in on 29 October. 🩹 Koke and Johnny Cardoso are expected to miss out. 🔥 Home games against Bayern and Barça follow straight after. 📝 What happened 📈 Atlético beat Deportivo 1-0 on 24 October for a sixth straight league win. With eight wins, a draw and a defeat for 25 points, they have matched 2023-24 for their best 10-game start in 13 seasons — one point more than in 2020-21, their last title-winning campaign. Oblak has kept five clean sheets in 10 games. 🇰🇷 According to FútbolFantasy, Simeone's trial XI on 29 October was Oblak; Pubill, Romero, Hancko, Grimaldo; Giuliano, Barrios, Llorente, Baena; Jonathan David, Julián. Lee was left out, but he, Sørloth and Arnau Ortiz were tried in different attacking roles, so nothing is settled. 🩹 Cuti Romero, back from a muscle injury, is gradually rejoining group work. Koke (hamstring) and Johnny Cardoso (thigh) are still training individually and are expected to miss Levante. 🏟️ Levante are 14th on 10 points. They lost 2-1 at Real Sociedad last time out but beat Athletic Club 3-1 in their previous home game. Atlético's last visit, in January, ended 0-0. 📊 By the numbers • 25 points from 10 games (W8 D1 L1), 20 scored, 8 conceded • Six straight league wins; five clean sheets for Oblak • Levante: 14th on 10 points 👀 What to watch 🇰🇷 Will Lee start? — He missed out on the trial XI, but Simeone is keeping his attacking options open, and rotation is likely in a packed schedule. 🛡️ Midfield gaps — With Koke and Cardoso out, Llorente moves into midfield, while Barrios's minutes are reportedly being managed. 🔥 Managing the load — Hjulmand, sent off at Stuttgart, is suspended for Bayern on 3 November. How much will Simeone hold back at Levante? 🔭 Why it matters Two points behind leaders Barça, a win could take Atlético top depending on Barça's result against Alavés. Then come Bayern in the Champions League on 3 November and Barça in LaLiga on 8 November, both at the Metropolitano.