Fernando Torres has been selected up top for Atletico Madrid as they look to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona with a win away at Real Betis this evening.

The Rojiblancos head into the clash unbeaten in their last five La Liga outings, knowing that three points at ​Estadio Benito Villamarin will lift them up to second place.

Luciano Vietto returns to the squad following his recent layoff, but Torres - without a goal in two months - has been given the nod through the middle with further support being provided by Antoine Griezmann.

Elsewhere, Stefan Savic is preferred to Jose Gimenez at the back, while Yannick Ferreira Carrasco is also handed a starting role.

Betis, currently eight points adrift of their title-chasing opponents, have seven-goal striker Ruben Castro up front, but Rafael van der Vaart has to settle for a place among the subs.

Real Betis XI: Adan; Piccini, Bruno, Westermann, Varela; Torres, Digard, N'Diaye; Cejudo, Castro, Joaquin

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Gamez, Godin, Savic, Luis; Gabi, Tiago, Koke; Carrasco, Torres, Griezmann

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Written by
Daniel Lewis