Atletico Madrid are set to welcome back an important player for the Champions League clash
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Atletico Madrid will welcome an important player back from injury ahead of their Champions League clash with Tottenham on Tuesday night. The Spanish giants picked up a big win over the weekend, defeating Real Sociedad 3-2 to keep hold of third place.
Atleti are currently ahead of fourth-placed Villarreal on head-to-head only, level on points, although the clear objective for both teams is to qualify for the Champions League, and each of them have a nine-point lead over Real Betis in fifth.
Tottenham face a big test against Atletico as they look to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The competition has been the only saving grace for Spurs this season, given their awful domestic campaign that has left them on the brink of the relegation zone.
Interim boss Igor Tudor is still looking for his first win, and it would be quite the statement if he was to get it in the Spanish capital . Given Tottenham’s recent form, most Spurs fans will simply be hoping to keep the tie alive going into the second, home leg, be that a narrow win, draw or narrow defeat.
But Atletico have been far from their best this season, and while they will still be heavy favourites against this struggling Tottenham side, they too have some issues they will want to address going into next season, when they will hope to close the gap on the top two in La Liga.
Ahead of this game, Diego Simeone will welcome back an important player in Pablo Barrios, the 22-year-old midfielder who has become a key starter having come through the club’s academy in recent years.
Barrios has missed the last five La Liga games with a muscular injury, but according to Marca, he has returned to training and will be in contention for the Champions League clash with Spurs.
Barrios has 19 La Liga starts and eight Champions League appearances to his name so far this season.