Injury blow ahead of Arsenal for Atletico starter after new setback

Atletico Madrid’s Pablo Barrios has suffered an injury setback, and is now a major doubt to face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals.

Diego Simeone made a few changes to his Atletico Madrid team against Athletic Club at the weekend, resting certain players like Julian Alvarez and Robin Le Normand for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg match against Arsenal.

But with Pablo Barrios’ recent injury struggles, the player was handed a start in the hope of building up his match sharpness.

The midfielder had spent two months on the sidelines injured, only returning to the pitch on Wednesday, after being a starter for Atletico throughout the first half of the season. The plan would presumably have been to get him ready to face Arsenal.

Instead, Barrios was forced off with a new muscular issue, with Atletico confirming he was “substituted in the second half after feeling muscular discomfort in his left thigh”.

Given it took months for Barrios to recover from his last muscular injury, this setback puts his participation against Atletico on Wednesday and the following Tuesday in serious doubt. It’s just nine days from now until the semi-final second leg, let alone the first.

Mundo Deportivo report that “everything indicates” the player will not be available against Arsenal on Wednesday, at the very least.

The good news for Atletico is that Alexander Sorloth returned from injury against Athletic Club at the weekend, but Ademola Lookman also remains a doubt for the Arsenal match at this stage.

Lookman’s involvement is perhaps key, as he’s the one starter Atletico didn’t yet have when they lost 4-0 to Arsenal earlier in the season. Whether he’ll be available and able to inspire an Atletico win this time remains to be seen.

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