Key Takeaways
- Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone and Alexander Sorloth are all expected to be available for the second leg against Arsenal.
- The trio faced injury concerns after the 1-1 draw in Madrid, but tests show no serious damage.
- Diego Simeone will likely rest his key forwards against Valencia this weekend to protect them for the London clash.
Atletico Madrid have received a major fitness boost ahead of their Champions League semi-final return leg against Arsenal. The first match between the two sides finished 1-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano this week. However, manager Diego Simeone faced worries after the final whistle. Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone both left the pitch with knocks during the game. Alexander Sorloth did not play at all due to hamstring discomfort.
The thought of losing three key attackers was worrying for Los Colchoneros. They must face one of the best defences in world football at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday. But Spanish radio station COPE reports that the situation is not as bad as first feared. All three players are now expected to make the trip to London.
Medical checks show none of the injuries are serious. As long as there are no new setbacks before Tuesday, the trio will be ready to play. This is excellent news for Simeone. Both his son Giuliano and Alvarez feature in his strongest starting eleven. Sorloth is also vital. The Norwegian striker has proved he can be a gamechanger when coming off the bench since joining from Villarreal in the summer of 2024.
Before travelling to England, Atletico face Valencia in La Liga on Saturday. Simeone will probably field a much-changed team at the Mestalla. It is widely expected that Alvarez, Giuliano and Sorloth will sit out this match. The club wants to keep them fresh for the European tie.
Atletico now have only the Champions League left to fight for this season. They are also losing ground to teams like Real Betis in the La Liga table. For this reason, resting key players against Valencia makes good sense. Simeone will hope his squad avoids any fresh injuries in that game.