Atletico Madrid are racing against time to prepare their defence for the crucial second leg against Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, despite holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.
However, this advantage is under threat, as injuries have severely impacted the team’s defence, presenting coach Diego Simeone with a real crisis ahead of one of the most important matches of the season.
Related topics
Injuries and suspensions plague the backline
Atletico suffered a major blow with the injury to defender David Hanco, who left the first leg with a sprained ankle. His appearance on crutches has raised serious concerns, making his participation in the upcoming match virtually impossible.
The crisis did not end there, as Mark Poppel is also confirmed to be out due to suspension after receiving his third yellow card, ruling him out of the decisive encounter.
Doubts surround Giménez… and makeshift solutions
All eyes are now on José María Giménez, who has been sidelined recently with a muscle injury, with doubts surrounding his availability to start in the highly anticipated match.
Under these circumstances, Simeone has no option but to rely on the duo of Robin Le Normand and Clément Lenglet, who appear to be the most likely choices to solidify the defence and try to maintain their first-leg advantage.
A real test before the semi-final
With these significant absences, the second leg becomes a tough test of Atlético’s resilience, while Barcelona seek to exploit any defensive weakness to turn the tables and snatch qualification.
All eyes are on Madrid… Will Simeone hold firm despite the blows, or will we witness another comeback?
