Marcos Llorente?s winning goal against Sevilla might have earned him a start at Montilivi. | Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images

Atlético aim to start 2024 by climbing back into the title race. Atlético de Madrid kick off 2024 with one of its most important games of the season so far ? a Wednesday night visit to co-leaders Girona.
Atletico Madrid (12-2-4, 38 points) can close to within four points of Girona (14-3-1, 45 points) with a victory. Crucially, Los Rojiblancos can also gain the head-to-head advantage over the Catalan club that they already enjoy over Real Madrid (also on 45 points) ? tiebreakers that could be immensely important when May rolls around.

?Girona are having an extraordinary season, they have the numbers to get excited about being champions,? Diego Simeone told the media on Tuesday. ?The coach has very clear ideas, and now he has a group of players who follow him, with a great idea of what they want and how to play. ... They?re forceful in front of goal, they aspire to the best finish possible, and they are what you see, a great team with youth and freshness from the bench.?
?Simeone:

"El Girona está haciendo una temporada extraordinaria, con números para ilusionarse por salir campeón"

"Madrid y Barça son dos monstruos de España y del mundo"

Propósito para 2024: "Generar ilusión, porque en la vida sin ilusión no hay nada"#JUGONES pic.twitter.com/GQayEzzdJY? Belén Sánchez García (@Be...