- Atletico Madrid are preparing for crunch Champions League clash with Roma
- Fernando Torres is in line for a shock start for Atletico on Wednesday night
- Sources close to manager Diego Simeone say he has decided to recall Torres
- Torres started up-front alongside Antoine Griezmann during Tuesday’s session
Former Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is in line for a shock start in Wednesday night’s crucial Champions League fixture between Atletico Madrid and Roma.
Sources close to Atletico manager Diego Simeone say he has decided to recall Torres for his team’s must-win final home group game.
And that appeared to be backed up by Atletico’s final full training session on Tuesday with Torres starting up-front alongside Antoine Griezmann.
Former Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is in line for a shock start for Atletico Madrid
Another ex-Blues star, Diego Costa, also took part in Atletico’s training session on Tuesday
Torres is expected to start up-front alongside Antoine Griezmann when they face Roma
Chelsea’s Champions League destiny is in their own hands. If they win they go through but if they draw then they will have one eye on how their former centre-forward fares in only his third start this season.
Torres has started just one league game and one Spanish Cup game this season and is yet to score or start a Champions League fixture.
But with Atletico’s other forwards firing blanks, Simeone believes it is time to call on an old fans’ favourite as the team goes in search of their first Champions League win.
Atletico’s biggest problem is a lack of goals and Torres is the man Simeone trusts to keep the hope of qualifying alive.
Atletico forwards Costa and Griezmann stretch during Tuesday’s training session in Madrid
Miguel Angel Moya shows his reflexes to save a shot from Felipe Luis ahead of the next match
Griezmann has a chat with Angel Correa, who is expected to start on the bench on Wednesday
The 33-year-old came on as a substitute on Saturday in the Madrid derby and teed-up Kevin Gameiro for what could have been the winner but his effort was cleared off the line.
In the first half it was Angel Correa who had the best chance but he skewed his shot wide from five yards. Griezmann never had a shot on target and was taken off.
But Simeone is expected to persevere with the Frenchman and bring Torres in alongside him, at Correa and Gameiro’s expense.
Sources close to Atletico manager Diego Simeone say he has decided to recall Torres
A general view of Atletico’s training session ahead of their crunch Champions League clash
Simeone put his men through their paces as they look for their first win of the group stage
The under-performing Spanish side have drawn three and lost one match so far this season