Julian Alvarez has travelled with Atletico Madrid’s squad for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, but doubts remain about his ability to start the match.
Atletico Madrid have confirmed their squad for the trip to London this midweek, revealing a few team news updates.
For a start, Nicolas Gonzalez and Pablo Barrios are absent, so they won’t be making their injury comebacks against Arsenal on Tuesday night.
But Jose Maria Gimenez has travelled, despite missing the first leg of the semi-final and Atletico’s match against Valencia at the weekend. That suggests he’s on the verge of an injury comeback, but it may be too much to immediately throw him into the starting lineup after eight games out.
The other big news is that Julian Alvarez is in the squad, having come off early against Arsenal in the first leg before sitting out of the Valencia match at the weekend.
Diario de Noticias had reported on Monday morning that though Alvarez was expected to travel, his ability to start the match would depend on how his ankle injury evolves over the next 24 hours.
The same goes for Giuliano Simeone, who is fit to travel, but might not be fit enough to start.
Aside from the five players listed above, the expectation is that everyone else will be fit and available for selection by Diego Simeone on Tuesday night.
- Arsenal keep winning while the old narratives refuse to disappearMikel Arteta’s new deal, Bruno Guimaraes’ impact, two Arsenal wins and a tribute to Ken Friar feature in a busy week for the champions.
- Arsenal away kit debut wait goes on – for nowArsenal are set to wear their third kit against Nottingham Forest this weekend, meaning the wait for the new away kit’s men’s competitive debut is set to continue.
- Key Nottingham Forest star could miss Arsenal clash through injuryNottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt to face Arsenal on Sunday, with at least two other Forest players ruled out of the match.
- Arsenal injury updates on 4 players pre-Nottingham ForestMikel Arteta had injury updates on Arsenal’s four absentees on Friday, with Martin Zubimendi potentially in line to play against Nottingham Forest.
- Bournemouth now willing to sell Arsenal targetAFC Bournemouth are now open to selling Arsenal target Alex Scott in the January transfer window, though only if they receive a very large bid for the midfielder.