Preview: Atletico travel without Gabi or Griezmann to face Deportiu Reus

Atletico Madrid's journey in this year's Copa del Rey takes them first to the Catalan town of Reus. There, Los Rojiblancos, will face the humble home team that plays its football in Segunda Division B in the first leg of the knockout phase for La Liga teams.

Press Conference

In Cholo Simeone's press conference ahead of the clash, he offered some insight about their opponents: ""According to the information we have collected: they haven't lose a home match on one year. They play a clear 4-4-2 system, relying heavily on their wing play. Rico is the right winger; he is good and has a lovely left foot with the ability to set-up goals. They have two strikers who like to punish mistakes in their opponent's defense. They are a very organised and tidy teams with experience and an ability to execute from set-pieces."

It would time to rest the regular starters and an opportunity for players who have not featured heavily during the start of Atletico's campaign. Gabi and Griezmann have stayed in Madrid, and Simeone had to complete his squad with youth players - this will prove a good chance for Atletico fans to see their younger players.

That means we will probably get to see the first official start of the season for Lucas Hernandez, Thomas Partey and Miguel Angel Moya. The young Ghanaian had a good debut in Atletico's 1-0 win over Espanyol at the weekend and will be given a great opportunity to show the coach that he can be a useful resource for the team.

For other players, like Angel Correa and Luciano Vietto, it might be the chance to gain confidence. Likewise, Saul might be given the chance to play in a new position in replacement of Tiago, who was lost for months with a broken leg on Sunday.

How the starting XI might look: Moyá; Gámez, Savic, Lucas, Siqueira; Saúl, Thomas, Koke; Óliver, Correa, Vietto.

Simeone´s squad

In: Moyá, Oblak, Siqueira, Savic, Lucas, Gámez, Giménez, Borja, Koke, Saúl, Thomas, Óliver, Villa, Correa, Vietto and Rober.

Out: Godín, Filipe Luis, Juanfran, Gabi, Carrasco, Griezmann, Torres (tactical), Jackson and Tiago (injury)