|
Yannick Carrasco is expected to start for Atletico Madrid for the first time in a month on Thursday in their Copa del Rey quarterfinal first leg against Eibar. Carrasco, 23, missed Atletico's opening three games of 2017 with an Achilles tendon injury, but was given the all-clear last week to play again. The Belgium international came on as a second-half substitute in Atletico's 1-0 home triumph over Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday and is set to play from the beginning for the Rojiblancos against Eibar at the Vicente Calderon, according to Marca. Carrasco last started for Atletico in a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas on Dec. 17. The former Monaco player has made 25 appearances for Atletico in all competitions this season, scoring 10 goals while setting up two more. AS reports that Atletico coach Diego Simeone will start Carrasco alongside Nicolas Gaitan in attack against Eibar, something he has done only five times before this season. When the two have played together from the first minute, Atletico have won four games and lost one -- a 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Dec. 6 -- while scoring 16 goals and conceding just three. Atletico are fourth in La Liga and six points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. Simeone's side travel to face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
|
