Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone confirms Jose Gimenez return

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has revealed that Jose Gimenez is fit and available for selection after recovering from an Achilles problem that has kept him on the sidelines since the middle of March.

Gimenez's return to the fold has come at a key time for Atletico, who will be without inspirational centre-back Diego Godin for the next couple of matches due to a hamstring problem.

Simeone has refused to play down the importance of Godin, but confirmed that Gimenez was now back in the fold ahead of Saturday's La Liga clash with Malaga.

"[Diego Godin] is very important in the hierarchy within the squad, but we have players with great enthusiasm and [Jose Maria] Gimenez is back with us. The others are responding very well, but we still hope he recovers in the best way possible," Simeone told reporters.

Atletico will welcome Bayern Munich to the Vicente Calderon for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final next week.