Atlético Madrid dealt double injury blow ahead of Barcelona clash
Atlético Madrid will be without captain Jan Oblak for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona. The Slovenian goalkeeper is absent from the squad for Wednesday's match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, having sustained a muscular injury in training on March 14th. The club confirmed the 33-year-old has not recovered in time to travel, leaving Juan Musso to deputise in goal for the crucial first-leg encounter.
Manager Diego Simeone will also be without key defender José María Giménez for the trip to Catalonia. The Uruguayan centre-back, who has a history of muscular issues, was forced off during training and is awaiting further medical assessment to determine the severity of the problem. The club confirmed Giménez felt a muscular discomfort, and further tests are pending.
This double blow compounds an already lengthy injury list for Atlético. Midfielders Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios are also out, leaving Diego Simeone with a depleted squad for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. The Argentine manager has named a 22-man squad for the trip, with Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman both included and expected to start.
Oblak's absence is a significant setback. The Slovenian, a fixture in goal for the club for nearly a decade, has been a pillar of consistency. His deputy, Juan Musso, will face a stern test against a Barcelona attack in fine form. The Argentine goalkeeper, who joined from Udinese, has made only a handful of appearances this season, with this being his first major test in a crucial European tie.
The injury to Giménez, a stalwart in defence, further weakens a backline that will need to be at its resolute best to contain Barcelona's potent forward line. His potential replacement, likely Stefan Savić or Mario Hermoso, will need to be at their best to contain Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal. The Uruguayan’s physicality and leadership will be sorely missed in such a high-stakes away fixture.
This is not the first time Atlético have faced adversity this season, but the timing of these injuries is far from ideal. The club is currently locked in a tight race for a top-four finish in La Liga and faces a monumental task in the Champions League. Simeone will be hoping his squad can overcome these setbacks and produce a resilient performance in what promises to be a fiercely contested first leg in Barcelona.
