Azpilicueta back in training with Atletico and Paulista wins battle over Savic

Atletico Madrid defender Cesar Azpilicueta is in the final stages of his recovery from the external meniscus tear suffered on 18 January, and so he began his gradual return to the squad on Thursday, in a session in which Diego Simeone again tested Gabriel Paulista in the likely starting eleven for Cadiz.

Azpilicueta, out for the last 12 games, will not be available for the visit to the Nuevo Mirandilla on Saturday. Neither will Thomas Lemar, who is in the final stages of his recovery from the Achilles tendon rupture suffered on 16 September, while Antoine Griezmann and Jose María Gimenez are still in doubt. None of the three took part in Thursday's morning session.

Without them, Simeone is already outlining his XI day by day. For the second consecutive session without Pablo Barrios, who is still unwell, Saul Niguez was confirmed as his alternative in case he doesn't make it to Saturday's game, in a midfield alongside Rodrigo de Paul and Koke Resurrección. In attack, he insisted on Memphis Depay and Alvaro Morata.

In the doubt between Gabriel Paulista and Stefan Savic, evidenced in the tests of the first two training sessions of the week, the Brazilian has the advantage to start in the centre of defence against Cadiz, alongside Axel Witsel and Mario Hermoso, with Samuel Lino and Marcos Llorente on the left and right flanks, respectively, and Jan Oblak in goal.