Getty
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
ATLETICO MADRID  Courtois Perea, Dominguez, Godin, Filipe Assuncao, Tiago Adrian, Diego, Arda Falcao | HANNOVER  Zieler Cherundolo, Eggimann, Pogatetz, Pander Stindl, Pinto, Rausch Schlaudraff Diouf, Abdellaoue |
Diego Simeone will be buoyed by the return of both Diego and Tiago this week, with the Brazilian even managing to get some minutes under his belt against Zaragoza at the weekend.
Atletico Madrid prepared for the match with a training session on Tuesday, with all but two first-team players taking part. Silvio and club captain Antonio Lopez are currently recovering from injuries, and are working towards rehabilitation.
Hannover are coming off a spirited display against Bayern Munich at the weekend, in which they were only narrowly beaten 2-1 by the Bavarians. Mirko Slomka has a near full squad at his disposal for the trip to the Spanish capital, with only long-term absentee Leon Andreasen unavailable.
Both side's will be hoping to take an advantage going into the second leg, which takes place on April 5 at the AWD Arena.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Atletico Madrid won the inaugural Europa League competition in 2010, defeating Fulham 2-1 thanks to a Diego Forlan brace.
- Los Colchoneros' next European goal will be their 400th overall in Uefa club competitions.
- Diego Simeone's men are on a run of seven straight continental home victories.
- Hannover have never got beyond the quarter-finals of any European competition in their history.
- Mirko Slomka guided Schalke to the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup in the 2005/06 campaign.
- Hannover have lost just one out of five Europa League away games this season, against Standard Liege in a 2-0 defeat.
Atletico Madrid have won seven continental home matches in a row and they should have no problem in dispatching the least experienced team left in the competition. Mirko Slomka's men will certainly play with a lot of freedom as they go into the match as huge underdogs, but the firepower in attack of the home side will prove too much for the Germans.
Editor's Prediction
Atl. Madrid 3-1 Hannover 96 
