Ace fiery striker, Diego Costa is back in the Atletico Madrid squad for the first time after fully recovering from a foot injury he sustained over two months ago. Costa played his last match for Atletico at the start of December and needed a surgery to resolve the issue, but he is named on the bench for Saturday’s derby at Rayo Vallecano.
The Brazil-born Spain international had been expected to return in time for next week’s last-16 Champions League tie against Juventus, with the first leg played on Wednesday at the Wanda Metropolitano. Alvaro Morata plays in attack with the support of Antoine Griezmann with Vitolo and Angel Correa providing width for Diego Simeone’s side, whose defeat at home to rivals Real Madrid last time out made it successive LaLiga losses.
Simeone’s side would move within four points of LaLiga’s summit with a win, although leaders Barcelona are at home to Real Valladolid later in the day.