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Griezmann avoids serious injury, could play in Madrid Derby

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MADRID (AP) Atletico Madrid says doctors have ruled out a serious injury to Antoine Griezmann's left foot, potentially allowing the France forward to play in the derby against Real Madrid on Saturday.

Griezmann hurt the foot in France's World Cup qualifier against Sweden on Friday, but tests conducted Sunday discarded any bone injuries that could have sidelined him for a long time.

He will not play in France's friendly against Ivory Coast on Tuesday and has already returned to Madrid to undergo treatment with club doctors ahead of Saturday's game.

Atletico said the player's presence at the Vicente Calderon Stadium is ''pending evolution.''

Sergio Ramos, who had been nursing a knee injury, and Luka Modric, who underwent knee surgery in September, should be available for Real Madrid. Modric played off the bench in a 3-0 win against Leganes in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Casemiro and Pepe are not likely to recover from their injuries, and Toni Kroos is certain to miss the game because of a right foot ailment.

Madrid leads the league with 27 points from 11 games - two points more than Barcelona. Atletico, after a 2-0 loss at Real Sociedad, has 21 points and is one behind third-place Villarreal.