World Cup Brasil 2014 Fixture

World Cup Brasil 2014 Fixture

Diego Costa may still make Champions League final


Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone has said he will give Diego Costa and Arda Turan every chance to prove their fitness ahead of the Champions League final against Real Madrid on Saturday.
Both players were forced off with injuries inside the first 25 minutes as Atlético claimed their first La Liga title in 18 years with a 1-1 draw away to Barcelona at the weekend.
Spanish media reported on Monday that Costa will miss the final after suffering the recurrence of a hamstring problem, whilst Turan has a hip injury.
"We are just starting the week. There are still a few days to go and we are not going to jump the gun because I think it is too early for such an important game, but we need the players to be in the right condition.
"We will wait to see how Costa and Arda recover until the end of the week and we will look for alternatives if they don't recover."
Atlético go into the game full of confidence having ended Real and Barcelona's 10-year domination of La Liga and having lost just twice in 10 meetings against the two this season.
However, Simeone played down the influence winning the league could have in Lisbon.
"Winning is always good, but you have to move on straight away. We need to be 100 per cent concentrated and I am sure the players will respond as they have always done in the biggest games."
Victory on Saturday would deliver the fifth trophy of a glorious two-and-a-half year spell since Simeone took over in December 2011.