Key Takeaways
- Julian Alvarez is fit to travel to London after his ankle problem is not serious.
- Alexander Sørloth missed the first leg because he hurt his leg during the warm-up.
- Giuliano Simeone went off at half-time with a waist injury after a clash with Piero Hincapie.
Atletico Madrid face a nervous wait over the fitness of key players before their trip to London. The Spanish side drew with Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. Now they hope to have their stars ready for the return match at the Emirates Stadium next week.
Diego Simeone received good news about Julian Alvarez. The Argentine striker left the pitch late in the game with ankle pain. However, scans show he has avoided serious damage. He should be available for the second leg.
The manager has bigger worries about Alexander Sørloth. The Norwegian striker did not play any minutes against Arsenal. Club director Mateu Alemany explained the problem. Sørloth felt pain in his hamstring during the warm-up. This was the same leg issue that kept him out last week.
Giuliano Simeone also caused concern. The coach’s son started the match but came off at half-time. He suffered a hard knock to his waist after a challenge from Piero Hincapie. Diego Simeone hopes the injury is not bad.
Other players face fitness battles too. Midfielder Pablo Barrios will definitely miss the London trip. Defender Jose Maria Gimenez remains a doubt. Nicolas Gonzalez was also set to start but picked up a training injury on Tuesday.
Despite these problems, Simeone remains positive. He expects all three injured stars to make the journey to England. Atletico need a strong squad as they fight for a place in the Champions League final.