Sports News of Wednesday, 12 April 2017

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Thomas Partey in 18-man Atletico squad to face Leicester City in Champs League

Thomas Partey Thomas Partey

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been named in Atletico Madrid's 18-man squad to face Leicester City in the UEFA Champions League first-leg, quarter-finals clash on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone named the talented midfielder after their training on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's match.

The Argentine coach recalled his compatriot Nico Gaitán, who has recovered from an arthritis in his left foot but Partey still stands the chance of playing.

The Argentine midfielder was reinstated to the squad this morning in training at the Ciudad Deportiva de Majadahonda after three weeks on the sidelines.

Four players: goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya, defender Sime Vrsaljko, and midfielders Tiago Mendes and Augusto Fernández were all left out because of injuries in the squad.

Leicester’s last trip to Madrid was the first time the Foxes had played in Europe for 35 years after they won the 1997 League Cup, beating Middlesbrough 1-0 in a replay at Hillsborough.

Atletico were one of the favourites for the competition – which was eventually won by Inter Milan – having signed Juninho from Middlesbrough and Christian Vieri from Juventus and went onto reach the semi-finals, losing to Lazio.

Atletico is playing in the Champions League quarterfinals for the fourth straight season. It lost the final to Real Madrid both in 2014 and 2016, the last one in a penalty shootout.

The call is made up of the 18 available players of the first team:

Goalkeepers Jan Oblak and André Moreira;

Defenses Juanfran Torres, Stefan Savic, Jose Maria Giménez, Diego Godín, Lucas Hernandez and Filipe Luis;

Midfielders Yannick Carrasco, Alessio Cerci, Gabi Fernandez, Thomas Partey, Saúl Ñíguez, Koke Resurrección and Nico Gaitán;

Strikers Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa and Fernando Torres.