Atletico de Madrid vs Valladolid preview - Simeone seeks a positive response

Atletico Madrid will be looking to get their season back on course when they host relegation-battling Valladolid on Saturday.

Los Rojiblancos were knocked out of the Copa del Rey after two resounding defeats to Real Madrid, while their 2-0 loss at Almeria knocked them off the top of the Primera Division, just six days after they had reached its summit for the first time in 18 years.

In his pre-match briefing, coach Diego Simeone underlined the importance of getting back to winning ways.

"We've lost an important Cup tie, without any doubt, and a league game, so now it's fundamental that we find a way to beat a team that will come here with a lot of motivation, and a lot of speed in attack," he said.

And he warned against viewing Juan Ignacio Martinez' men as easy opponents, citing their defeat at Almeria - also fighting to avoid the drop - as an experience they must learn from.

He continued: "In theory they [Valladolid] are a good team to face if we want to start winning again - but we have just lost at Almeria and the history of football tells us that different things might happen to what we expect.

"No-one expected Valencia to win at Barcelona but that's what happened."

Simeone also stressed that more teams will play in the restrictive way Almeria did from now until the end of the season.

"I have said before that teams play in a different style in the second half of the season. They think less about playing well and more about how to get the points."

Atletico were without number-one choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois against Almeria, and his replacement Dani Aranzubia did not cover himself in glory, at fault for the opening goal and then giving away the penalty which led to the second.

The Belgian has now recovered from a back problem and is expected to return to the side against Valladolid, while Atleti will also be boosted by the return of David Villa, who has been named in the squad after recovering from a strained hamstring.

The Spain international may start the game on the bench, with a view to Wednesday's Champions League clash at AC Milan, while Diego Ribas is also expected to be rested for similar motives.

Tiago Mendes has been ruled out of action for up to eight weeks after undergoing wrist surgery, meaning Mario Suarez will start in midfield - and Javier Manquillo also faces a lengthy lay-off after suffering whiplash following an awkward landing in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid.

Jeffren and Oscar Ramos are injured for Valladolid, unbeaten in their last three league games, while Jesus Rueda is suspended.