Juanfran has some inside information.
Although Atletico Madrid only shared news of Nicolas Gaitan's return to full training after a hip problem yesterday, Juanfran's short, in-house chat with Antoine Griezmann has revealed the marksman's foot injury isn't too severe and that he's available for Saturday's visit from Real Madrid.
"I've asked Griezmann this morning if he's going to play the derbi," the veteran right-back told Cope, with translation from ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan. "He told me that yes, he will play."
Griezmann picked up a hematoma on his left foot in France's 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Sweden last Friday, and had the Atletico faithful sweating during the international break. A strike pairing of Kevin Gameiro and perhaps Fernando Torres, who has made just one league start this term, would appear to be Diego Simeone's likeliest solution if Griezmann cannot make the tie.
It's not as if Zinedine Zidane has a clean bill of health a 20 minute drive north, though. Real Madrid faces an anxious wait on Alvaro Morata's health, while Pepe, Toni Kroos, and Sergio Ramos are still working on their respective rehabilitations.
Related: Morata could miss Madrid derby after suffering hamstring injury
There are also lingering doubts over the availability of Daniel Carvajal, Raphael Varane, and Karim Benzema, although the latter was photographed in Thursday's first-team training session.
(Courtesy: Real Madrid)
The last meeting between the Spanish capital rivals came in May, when Real trumped Atleti on penalties in May's Champions League final.
