Atletico Madrid vs Rostov - Diego Simeone knows Rostov will test Atletico Madrid

Posted Tuesday, November 01, 2016 by PA

Diego Simeone is expecting a tough game as his Atletico Madrid side look to secure their place in the Champions League last 16 when Rostov visit the Vicente Calderon.

The Spanish side are one of only two teams, along with English champions Leicester, to have won their opening three group games without conceding a goal.

Three 1-0 victories have put them in command of Group D, and a similar outcome on Tuesday will guarantee their progress to the knockout stages.

However, Simeone will not be underestimating his opponents - who could be eliminated should they fail to cause an upset in the Spanish capital.

"Rostov is a team that never splits," he told Atletico's official website.

"They have very clear ideas and know how to exploit their potential. We have to do a game like we did in Rostov."

Simeone revealed that veteran Fernando Torres will start up front and said of the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker: "His work is very good ... we hope to continue his ambition that has led him to win all that he's won.

"He's one of the few who's won the Champions League and he can lead us to understand what that means."

Nico Gaitan is missing after limping out of the 4-2 win against Malaga at the weekend with a hip injury, but defender Jose Maria Gimenez is included in the squad after recovering from a groin problem which has ruled him out for the last month.

Rostov's chances of breaching Atletico's watertight defence have not been helped by a failure to score in their last four matches, and defender Cesar Navas wants his side to keep things tight against a team who have won 26 of their last 31 European matches at home, losing only twice.

"They score lots of goals as they have good players in attack," he told the club's official websitee. "We need to focus and eliminate errors. Perhaps, if we can maintain the score at nil-nil, we have a little chance."

Head coach Ivan Daniliants is boosted by the availability of midfielder Maksim Grigoryev, who made his comeback at the weekend after a year out with cruciate ligament damage.