Atletico Madrid have been lifted ahead of today’s La Liga derby at home to Real Madrid by the return of inspirational captain Diego Godin from injury, although Spain internationals Koke and Diego Costa look set to miss out. The Uruguayan defender, 32, was given the all clear by doctors to return to action yesterday after sustaining a hamstring injury on Jan. 26. Midfielder Koke and forward Costa did not take part in yesterday’s training session.
Atletico midfielder Saul Niguez is also expected to make his return from injury against Real, having missed last week’s 1-0 defeat at Real Betis which saw them fall six points behind league leaders Barcelona.
Striker Alvaro Morata, who had a disappointing debut against Betis, is set for his home bow, facing the club where he began his career. Real lost Spanish midfielder Marcos Llorente to injury in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Barcelona in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, while out-of-favour playmaker Isco is expected to be unavailable after withdrawing from yesterday’s training session with a back problem.
Real are resurgent after an inconsistent campaign, winning their last four league outings to move within two points of their neighbours, and will climb above them into second in the standings with victory today.
It will be the first meeting between Atletico coach Diego Simeone and Argentine compatriot Santiago Solari, who played under Simeone at Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo. Solari has helped revive Madrid’s fortunes since succeeding Julen Lopetegui as coach in October.
“We are meeting an opponent who has really grown since Solari arrived, they are dangerous down the flanks, and they have Karim Benzema in a fantastic spell of form,” Simeone said. “I have known Solari for a very long time, I coached him at San Lorenzo and he gave us authority and leadership. He’s a capable coach and he’s shown that he has real character.” 
Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois, who left Chelsea on bad terms last summer, expects to feel the anger from Atletico Madrid too when he faces them in the white of Real Madrid. Courtois developed into one of the world’s finest goalkeepers during three years on loan at Atletico but he will be up against his former club, and Chelsea teammate Alvaro Morata, in what could prove a pivotal city derby this weekend.
For Courtois, a reunion with Simeone’s side is not new — he faced them twice for Chelsea in the Champions League last season and again at the Santiago Bernabeu in September — but this will be his first experience in front of the Atletico fans, in the colours of Real Madrid.
“It happens in football, it’s a derby and a derby here in Madrid is always heated,” Courtois said. “They’ll whistle and shout, everything you would expect, it’s part of football. I will always respect them. Now I’m playing for the other side.”  Courtois helped Atletico crack the duopoloy of Barca and Real by winning La Liga in 2014, while also lifting the Europa League, Copa del Rey and Super Cup during his time at the club. 

Barca lose Arthur to injury, Messi a doubt for Bilbao trip
Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo has been ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury, handing the La Liga leaders another fitness blow after Lionel Messi missed training on Friday with a thigh problem.
Arthur, who has quickly adapted to the Barca team since joining from Brazilian side Gremio last year, will miss the Cup semi-final second leg with Real on Feb. 27 and the Champions League last-16 first leg at Olympique Lyonnais on Feb. 19. He will also be sidelined for league games against Athletic Bilbao, Real Valladolid and Sevilla and faces a battle to be fit for the league ‘Clasico’ away to Real Madrid on March 2.
Barca captain Messi, the league’s top scorer with 21 goals, is a serious doubt for tomorrow’s testing trip to Athletic Bilbao after missing training session with the thigh strain which made him unable to start the Cup game against Real. 
Left back Jordi Alba has already been ruled out of the game at Bilbao due to suspension and Ousmane Dembele has not yet recovered from an ankle injury.

Fixtures (times GMT)
Today: Getafe v Celta Vigo (1200), Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid (1515), Espanyol v Rayo Vallecano (1730), Girona v Huesca (2045)
Tomorrow: Leganes v Real Betis (1100), Valencia v Real Sociedad (1515), Sevilla v Eibar (1730), Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona (1945)
On Monday: Alaves v Levante (2000)