Atletico Madrid missing key player through injury for Arsenal showdown

Atletico Madrid will be without at least one player against Arsenal on Wednesday, with doubts persisting around four others.

The only Atletico Madrid player definitely out of the Arsenal Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday is Pablo Barrios (hamstring, likely out for the season), but there are a number of other doubts.

Perhaps the biggest doubt surrounds Jose Maria Gimenez, with the Uruguayan media suggesting the player is likely to miss the first leg. The defender has missed Atletico’s last six games with a muscle injury.

Then Ademola Lookman is yet to return to training with Atletico, putting his participation in doubt as well. But no reports have ruled the winger out of the match, with suggestions they’ll push as hard as they can to have him involved.

David Hancko has been out for Atletico’s last five matches, but he rejoined training last week. The defender still wasn’t fit for the Atletico squad that faced Athletic Club at the weekend, but it’s possible he could now return against Arsenal.

Then Julian Alvarez has been struggling with muscle discomfort. The forward was in the squad for Atletico at the weekend, but he was unused for the fourth league game in a row.

Marca report that Alvarez is effectively being wrapped in cotton wool, not taking part in warm-up drills at the weekend, nor on the sidelines during the game. But the intention is very much to include him in the squad against Arsenal, so don’t expect him to miss out.

Based on all of the above information, Alvarez should be available to start if called upon, Hancko is relatively likely to make the squad, Lookman’s situation is uncertain, Gimenez will probably miss out, and Barrios definitely will.

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