Ruud van Nistelrooy - Malaga
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
MALAGA  CaballeroSanchez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal Toulalan, Apono Cazorla, Fernandez, IscoVan Nistelrooy | ATLETICO MADRID  CourtoisPerea, Godin, Dominguez, Filipe Tiago, KokeSalvio, Diego, Turan Falcao |
Portuguese midfielder Tiago could make a return to the Atletico Madrid starting line-up as Diego Simeone looks to kick off his reign at the capital club with a positive result.
Koke and Eduardo Salvio are also in contention for starting berths, while Luis Perea is set to make a return at right-back. The Argentine coach will be without Jose Antonio Reyes after sanctioning his move to Sevilla in a €3.5 million deal on Thursday.
Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has no fresh injury concerns and could field the same team that narrowly lost the midweek Copa del Rey match against Real Madrid.
Long-term injury absentee Julio Baptista remains out of the first team picture, while Spanish winger Joaquin misses out with a muscle tear. Defensive duo Helder Rosario and Kris Stadsgaard sit out with calf injuries.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Malaga are on a three-game winless streak in all competitions.
- Santi Cazorla (pictured) is Malaga's top scorer this season with four goals.
- The Andalusian club have a sizeable British following due to the large number of British expatriates residing on the Costa del Sol.
- Atletico Madrid have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.
- Colombian ace Radamel Falcao is the capital club's leading scorer this season with nine goals.
- Diego Simeone, who began his coaching career in 2006, is in his seventh managerial job at Atletico Madrid.
It is Diego Simeone's first game in the Atletico dugout and the new coach syndrome may well have the desired effect on Saturday. Add to this the fact that Atletico are the fresher team and they should have enough to hold their affluent hosts.
Editor's Prediction
Malaga 2-2 Atl. Madrid 
