Simeone upbeat over Giménez injury

Atlético Madrid brushed aside Huesca on Tuesday night with a routine 3-0 win thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Partey and Koke. The home win at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano allowed Diego Simeone to rest some of his key players in the second half — most notably Griezmann and Diego Costa — while his men have have an extra day to prepare for their short trip to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night.

One worrying sight though was José Giménez going off with a muscular issue after 37 minutes of action. Lucas Hernández replaced the injury-prone Uruguayan and played the rest of the match in central defense. Simeone is optimistic, however, that the 23-year-old will make it back in time for the derbi.

“We will evaluate him tomorrow,” he said on Tuesday night. “But knowing him, I have positive feelings that he will be okay for Saturday.”

Cholo was delighted with the result but says his side have been playing well all season. He says they arrive into the game against Real Madrid after a positive result.

“We managed it in the best possible way to arrive into it [el derbi] with energy,” the Argentine said.