Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has received a major boost with several first-team players returning from injury for his side’s Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Liverpool on Wednesday night, according to The Liverpool Echo.
The Spanish outfit defeated the reigning European champions 1-0 in the first leg, despite key players like Kieran Trippier and Joao Felix being absent.
Atletico striker Diego Costa was also only fit enough only for a substitute appearance in the Wanda Metropolitano but things look better for the capital city side ahead of the return leg at Anfield on Wednesday.
Trippier and Felix featured in the 2-2 draw against Sevilla at the weekend with the latter grabbing the second goal for Atletico.
Thomas Lemar has also recovered from a knock that he picked up in the reverse fixture in February and has been included in the 24-man matchday squad.
Left-back Renan Lodi missed the draw against Sevilla with muscular discomfort but participated in a group training session on Monday and is expected to be in contention at least.
Following is the complete squad for Atletico ahead of the Anfield clash –
Goalkeepers : Oblak, Adan, Alex.
Defenders: Gimenez, Arias, Lodi, Savic, Felipe, Hermoso, Trippier, Vrsaljko.
Midfielders: Thomas, Koke, Saul, Lemar, Llorente, Herrera, Vitolo, Carrasco.
Forwards: Felix, Morata, Correa, Saponjic, Diego Costa.
Meanwhile Liverpool also received a major injury boost as captain Jordan Henderson has been deemed fit to feature on Wednesday after three weeks out with a hamstring injury that he sustained in the first leg.
The Champions League is Atletico’s only hope of a trophy this season with the club 13 points behind leaders Barcelona in fifth place in La Liga and having been knocked out of the Copa Del Rey already.
Simeone’s side have always thrived under the underdogs tag and it will be another huge scalp if they manage to knock out the defending champions on Wednesday.
