Atleti training affected: Cardoso absent and Koke works apart

Atlético de Madrid started its first training session of the week ahead of Saturday’s match against Espanyol, using a recovery day after the Champions League tie vs Manchester United. The session featured two absences: Johnny Cardoso stayed out due to indisposition, while Koke was working apart in the gym.

The session was split into two groups. The Champions starters did lighter work and then went to the gym, while the substitutes after an activation session played a small-sided game against the club’s third team.

In that drill, Atlético lined up with Musso in goal, Pubill, Domínguez, Le Normand and Dani Martínez in defence, Hjulmand and Mendoza as a double pivot, Arnau Ortiz and Lookman wide, and Jonathan David with Sorloth up front. There is still one training session before the trip to Cornellà, where Simeone will decide whether to rotate players from the last match.