The striker went AWOL last summer after a major row with Antonio Conte and lost his place as a consequence. 'It is very clear that it was not my fault that I was in Brazil,' the striker said.

If you are having withdrawal symptoms from the Premier League then have no fear as the world's best stars will be in action over the weekend. Here, Sportsmail runs through the best match-ups.

Spain's star-studded squad, including Chelsea left back Alonso, trained at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday morning ahead of their clash with Argentina later in the day.

It’s Zidane against Simeone, Costa against Ramos, and Bale against the Bernabeu. Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid will not decide the Spanish title this year but there is still plenty resting on game.

Diego Costa will be back to torment Arsene Wenger this week in Europe, three years after he last left his mark on the Arsenal manager in the Premier League.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE WANDA METROPOLITANO: Diego Costa appears at the doorway of the dressing-room before kick off. 'Lads,' he announces with a big grin. 'It's Arsenal.'

Diego Costa has hinted at Antoine Griezmann's imminent departure but said the French forward is completely focused on first winning the Europa League with Atletico Madrid.

Sportsmail provide you with information for the Europa League final Marseille vs Atletico Madrid including time, date, location and how to watch plus how both teams made it to the final.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: A rare error from Manchester United keeper David de Gea meant Spain failed to sign off with a win before they fly to Russia as one of the World Cup favourites.

The mood in Fernando Hierro's Spain camp appears to be hugely relaxed ahead of Sunday's last 16 clash with Russia. La Roja were pictured enjoying an evening session in Krasnodar.

Atletico Madrid's stars were in high spirits as they prepared for the visit of Club Brugge in the Champions League. 

Atletico Madrid have edged past Catalan minnows Sant Andreu in the first leg of their Copa del Rey clash on Tuesday evening courtesy of a first-half strike from Gelson Martins. 

Atletico Madrid have confirmed Diego Costa will have an operation on his left foot in Brazil this week. The surgery will keep him out until February.

Simeone reached the milestone with a 4-0 victory over Spanish minnows Sant Andreu in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey. Under Simeone, Atletico have won seven major trophies.

Diego Costa proved he has lost none of his mischievousness since leaving Chelsea for a return to Spain in 2017 by playing a hilarious prank on his brother.

The striker is currently recuperating from surgery on his left foot and is expected to be out until February but that did not prevent him from scheming against team-mate Lucas Hernandez.

Eden Hazard was back to his brilliant best in his preferred role on the left-wing against Tottenham on Thursday after playing in a false 9 role in recent weeks.

The video assistant referee (VAR) system was once again on everybody's lips and keyboards on Wednesday night as the Champions League trial threw up a few controversial incidents.

It looked as though Chelsea fans were really missing Diego Costa after his performance in Atletico Madrid's win over Juventus on Wednesday. Costa re-signed for Atletico in 2018.

A World Cup winner who has played with some of football's biggest talents, Antoine Griezmann was never going to be short of options when it came to choosing his dream five-a-side team.

The visitors battled on despite their numerical disadvantage and did excellently to frustrate Barca for so long. Oblak made nine saves before being beaten by Suarez's fine strike on 86 minutes.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa was sent off for dissent during Saturday's defeat by Barcelona after reportedly aiming a vile insult to the referee regarding his mother.

With just seven games left Costa, who was shown a straight red card, will not feature for the remainder of the season and may have played his last game for Atletico Madrid.

INTERVIEW BY PETE JENSON: Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista will never forget the moment he knew he’d arrived in English football. It was his Arsenal debut against Everton.

Carlo Ancelotti is said to be an admirer of the former Chelsea forward and approves of his club's interest in the Spanish international. Costa has endured a tough first full season back at Atletico.

Despite Everton having overspent their budget, leaving director of football Marcel Brands the task of reducing a bloated squad, Moshiri has indicated he is willing to pay for a marquee signing up front.

Atletico Madrid have been hit with a setback after in-form striker Alvaro Morata was ruled out of the upcoming match with Eibar due to a knee injury.

Costa played up front with Griezmann for a season and a half under Diego Simeone's stewardship and believes the want-away Frenchman left the club for the right reasons.

Eden Hazard's current manager at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, scored an incredible match-deciding volley in the 2002 Champions League final as Real Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen.

While Atletico are still keeping pace with La Liga's top two, their performances have left fans frustrated with three of their last four league games ending as goalless stalemates.

The Portuguese star underwent X-ray and MRI scans at a local hospital and the club later confirmed that their mega-money summer signing has suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain.

Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata scored for the sixth game in a row to help his side to a 3-1 win at home to struggling Espanyol on Sunday, taking them up to third in La Liga.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa is facing at least three months out on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a back problem.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: For the first time in 30 years, Liverpool are the champions. We knew that already and it looks now as though the coronavirus has confirmed it.

The North Korean mass games are a spectacle of gymnastic synchronisation believed to be the world's 'biggest human performance' held at Rungrado, reportedly the world's biggest stadium.

The magnitude 1.3 quake took place in the Chinese city of Hunchun at 19:38pm local time today with a focal depth of zero metres, reported China seismic network.

The Pyongyang strongman beamed as he led Xi on a stroll through the gardens of the city's state guest house and hosted a lunch with

Alex Sigley, a 29-year-old student of Korean Literature at Kim Il Sung University, has been arrested and the Australian government is frantically trying to work out why.

An Australian exchange student who ran tours in North Korea has been arrested after posting about life in the secretive country.

Alek Sigley's wife Yuka Morinaga said she received her last message from him on Monday. The 26-year-old, who is based in Tokyo, usually speaks to Mr Sigley every day on WhatsApp.

Perth man Alek Sigley, missing in North Korea, may have been silenced ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the demilitarized zone, an expert said on Friday.

Alek Sigley, 29, last made contact with his family on June 25, sparking concerns he had been detained in the secretive nation's capital, Pyongyang.

The Australian student's business partner, Michelle Joyce, said she would 'be surprised' if he didn't return to the country despite the negative experience.

Alek Sigley, 29, landed in China safe and well on Thursday after spending nine days detained in the communist country.

The hermit country claimed on Saturday that Alek Sigley had spread anti-Pyongyang propaganda by providing photos and other materials to news outlets with critical views toward the North.

Choe In-guk - the son of former South Korean foreign minister Choe Dok-shin who defected in 1986 - was filmed arriving in Pyongyang on Saturday where he pledged allegiance to Kim Jong-un.

Mr Sigley, 29, returned to social media late on Wednesday, where he released a brief statement after assuring everyone he was well, mentally and physically.

Alek Sigley (left), 29, who is believed to be the only Australian living in North Korea, went missing this week after a series of posts on social media about life in the mysterious capital of Pyongyang.

Starting in Rotterdam, the two Maybach S600s took a four-month route across five countries before it is thought they were flown to North Korea from Russia, before Kim Jong-un took a ride in one (pictured).

North Korea has opened a high-end shopping mall in the capital Pyongyang which appeared to be selling western goods made by the likes of Nike, Adidas, Rolex, Tissot, Omega and Fila.