Atletico Madrid returned to action on Sunday with a 2-0 away win against Unai Emery’s Villarreal following their 1-0 defeat in the Champions League Round of 16 first-leg tie against Chelsea last week.
Diego Simeone’s side were unable to field a full substitutes bench against either the Blues or Villarreal due to the injury and suspension crisis that has hit the club recently.
Key defenders Jose Gimenez and Kieran Trippier were ruled out of the first-leg due to a muscle injury and a suspension for breaching betting regulations respectively.
However, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, both players may be available for the return leg at Stamford Bridge on March 17.
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The two were seen in training ahead of La Liga leaders most recent match and it has been reported that both should be fit to feature against Chelsea.
Trippier has been suspended for ten weeks following the FA’s ruling but the former Spurs man is back in training and available for selection next weekend.
Another man who was missing from the first-leg but is due to be back for Simeone’s team is Yannick Carrasco
The Belgian international did not feature during the weekend’s victory but was back in training with the squad and looks to be fit in time for Atletico’s next fixture on Sunday.
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Ahead of the Champions League clash Atletico face a Madrid derby against Real Madrid, a home match versus Athletic Club Bilbao and a trip to Getafe before traveling to face Chelsea and attempting to overturn the 1-0 deficit following Olivier Giroud’s wonder strike in Bucharest.
The Blues dominated possession and chances in the first-leg but with three key men due to be back for Atletico the tie is by no means over and Simeon’s men will once again provide a stern test for new Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.