Atlético returned to work after having rested on Tuesday and Simeone began testing the eleven ahead of the derby against Real Madrid, a key game in the fight for the league title. El Cholo has Trippier and Carrasco back, the first after completing the FIFA sanction that he has been out of the last nine games and the second recovered from the blow suffered at the Ciutat de Valencia and that has prevented him from participating in the last three games.
And the two would go straight back to eleven. Atlético have established themselves in the line of three centrals, but in the derby they could return to the 1-4-4-2 that Cholo had always used. The versatility of Hermoso allows him to position himself on the left side or re-form a line of three centrals with Felipe and Savic, something that has already been inserted in the match against Villarreal. With Lemar on the sidelines, working with a recuperator in an alternative field, Simeone devised an eleven where Llorente would accompany Suárez in attack as he already did during several sections of the match in La Cerámica and Carrasco and Correa would occupy the bands.
Trippier for Vrsaljko and Carrasco for Lemar would be the two novelties regarding the match against Villarreal. Behind, the defensive line would be formed by Trippier, Savic, Felipe and Hermoso Y the double pivot would be occupied by Koke and Saúl, with the collaboration of the Carrasco bands, who at any time can go on to play as the left lane and Correa pulled to the right wing, where against Villarreal he made a great physical display to collaborate in defense. According to the eleven tested by Simeone, Atlético would face Real Madrid with Oblak, Trippier, Savic, Felipe, Hermoso, Correa, Saúl, Koke, Carrasco, Llorente and Luis Suárez. João Félix, who scored again against Villarreal, would wait for his chance from the bench.