ESPN FC's Sid Lowe outlines the key points for Atletico Madrid's upcoming derby with rivals Real Madrid. Alejandro Moreno breaks down the top La Liga fixtures this weekend, including the highly anticipated Madrid derby. Antoine Griezmann is determined to improve his 3rd-place finish in this year's Goal 50 survey of the world's best players.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says that Antoine Griezmann is set to start Saturday evening's La Liga derbi at home to Real Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon despite not yet being 100 percent fit.
Griezmann took a heavy bang to his left foot and had to be substituted in France's 2-1 win over Sweden last Friday, and then missed Tuesday's friendly against the Ivory Coast due to the problem.
Although initial fears of a serious issue were allayed when scans showed no broken bones, swelling to the foot has stopped the 25-year-old from training too much this week, and teammate Saul Niguez said his colleague would have to play through pain if he returned.
The Colchoneros coach told reporters at the Calderon that Griezmann was still receiving treatment, but would be okay to play and make a difference in the game.
"[Griezmann] is good," Simeone said. "He had some more treatment today but he is fine. More than proud, I am lucky to have a player with such talent, who wants to improve always."
Atletico go into the weekend in fifth place in the La Liga table, six points behind table toppers Madrid, after losing two of their last three domestic games.
With the game being billed as the last ever derbi at the Calderon, although Atletico's move to a new stadium at La Peineta next summer is not yet confirmed, Simeone said his players must not be affected by the occasion.
"I expect the stands to be the same as always," Simeone said. "We need that No. 12. There is no need to send any special message. What is important to us is how we start the game. We must know how to control our emotions and stick together to be able to perform at the level the game demands. That is important, not whether afterwards we are six or nine points behind.
Antoine Griezmann will play against Real Madrid despite not being 100 percent fit.
After going 14 years without any derbi win, Atletico have not lost a La Liga game against Madrid since the 2012-13 season, but have lost out to their neighbours in the Champions League in each of the last three years, most recently after a penalty shootout in last May's final in Milan.
"For a long time we knew we were inferior to them," Simeone said. "And now we compete on the same level. The balance has changed. We know our virtues and our defects."
The big debate around the Calderon this week has been over whether Simeone will stick with this year's tactical change which has seen playmaker Koke move inside from the wing, a switch which has seen the team score more goals, but also become less solid defensively.
The Argentine declined to settle the discussion in advance by replying "I don't know where he will play" when asked in which position Koke would start the game.
But he then hinted that the Spain international would be in central midfield, as he was unsure whether to play Saul or fit again Nicolas Gaitan on one wing, with Yannick Carrasco assumed to be sure to start on the other side.
"I have not decided between Saul and Gaitan for the right wing," Simeone said. "We could use them both. Nico has more vision and Saul is more about hard work. They will both be useful in certain moments of the game."
Simeone also hailed the quality of Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who is set to start his first game in almost two months following a knee operation, saying the Croatian's return was more important to the still-unbeaten Los Blancos than injured holding midfielder Casemiro.
"[Modric] is who brings balance to Madrid, in both defence and attack," he said. "We know the strengths and weaknesses of Real Madrid. They have managed very well without Casemiro, as they keep winning anyway."
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says that Antoine Griezmann is set to start Saturday evening's La Liga derbi at home to Real Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon despite not yet being 100 percent fit.
Griezmann took a heavy bang to his left foot and had to be substituted in France's 2-1 win over Sweden last Friday, and then missed Tuesday's friendly against the Ivory Coast due to the problem.
Although initial fears of a serious issue were allayed when scans showed no broken bones, swelling to the foot has stopped the 25-year-old from training too much this week, and teammate Saul Niguez said his colleague would have to play through pain if he returned.
The Colchoneros coach told reporters at the Calderon that Griezmann was still receiving treatment, but would be okay to play and make a difference in the game.
"[Griezmann] is good," Simeone said. "He had some more treatment today but he is fine. More than proud, I am lucky to have a player with such talent, who wants to improve always."
Atletico go into the weekend in fifth place in the La Liga table, six points behind table toppers Madrid, after losing two of their last three domestic games.
With the game being billed as the last ever derbi at the Calderon, although Atletico's move to a new stadium at La Peineta next summer is not yet confirmed, Simeone said his players must not be affected by the occasion.
"I expect the stands to be the same as always," Simeone said. "We need that No. 12. There is no need to send any special message. What is important to us is how we start the game. We must know how to control our emotions and stick together to be able to perform at the level the game demands. That is important, not whether afterwards we are six or nine points behind.
Antoine Griezmann will play against Real Madrid despite not being 100 percent fit. After going 14 years without any derbi win, Atletico have not lost a La Liga game against Madrid since the 2012-13 season, but have lost out to their neighbours in the Champions League in each of the last three years, most recently after a penalty shootout in last May's final in Milan.
"For a long time we knew we were inferior to them," Simeone said. "And now we compete on the same level. The balance has changed. We know our virtues and our defects."
The big debate around the Calderon this week has been over whether Simeone will stick with this year's tactical change which has seen playmaker Koke move inside from the wing, a switch which has seen the team score more goals, but also become less solid defensively.
The Argentine declined to settle the discussion in advance by replying "I don't know where he will play" when asked in which position Koke would start the game.
But he then hinted that the Spain international would be in central midfield, as he was unsure whether to play Saul or fit again Nicolas Gaitan on one wing, with Yannick Carrasco assumed to be sure to start on the other side.
"I have not decided between Saul and Gaitan for the right wing," Simeone said. "We could use them both. Nico has more vision and Saul is more about hard work. They will both be useful in certain moments of the game."
Simeone also hailed the quality of Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who is set to start his first game in almost two months following a knee operation, saying the Croatian's return was more important to the still-unbeaten Los Blancos than injured holding midfielder Casemiro.
"[Modric] is who brings balance to Madrid, in both defence and attack," he said. "We know the strengths and weaknesses of Real Madrid. They have managed very well without Casemiro, as they keep winning anyway."
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