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Atletico and Real Madrid prepare for Wednesday's Champions League clashes

Xinhua, April 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

Both Atletico and Real Madrid are in Champions League action on Wednesday night as last season's finalists play the first leg of this year's quarter-finals.

Atletico Madrid are at home to reigning English champions, Leicester City, while Real Madrid have a difficult task away to Bayern Munich in a game where Real Madrid coach, Zinedine Zidane is down to the bare bones in defense.

The broken ribs suffered by Pepe during Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Atletico in the Liga Santander means he will be out of action for at least a month, while Rafael Varene is still out with a muscle injury to leave Zidane with just Sergio Ramos and Nacho Fernandez available in central defense.

Meanwhile Dani Carvajal was unable to train with the first team on Monday because of a knock he suffered in the derby, but should be able to take his place in the starting 11.

Zidane is unlikely to make many changes from the 11 he fielded on Saturday, although Isco could start ahead of Luka Modric, who would miss the return leg through suspension should he pick up a booking.

Atletico will be without injured duo Nico Gaiten and Kevin Gameiro for the game, which means Fernando Torres could once again partner Antoine Griezmann in attack.

The decision taken by the Argentinean Football Association to sack Edgardo Bauza as national team coach has raised speculation that Diego Simeone could be on their list of candidates to replace him, along with Sevilla's Jorge Sampaoli, but Simeone has made it clear he intends to stay at Atletico for another season.

Leicester travel to Madrid with six wins from seven games since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri and although they lost 4-2 to Everton at the weekend, they can be expected to defend deep and let Atletico do the attacking, which could produce a tense and tactical game in the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Endit