Atlético Madrid have suffered an important injury setback with midfielder Pablo Barrios ruled out after suffering a muscle injury.
Barrios picked up the problem following Atlético’s recent Champions League encounter with Liverpool and underwent medical tests to determine the extent of the injury.
The results confirmed a low-grade myofascial injury in his right leg.
The timing is particularly frustrating for Atlético manager Diego Simeone because Barrios has become one of the most important midfielders in his squad.
The 23-year-old has developed into a key player through his ability to combine technical quality with energy and defensive work. His absence therefore leaves Simeone with an important decision to make regarding the structure of his midfield.
Barrios is expected to miss Atlético’s upcoming match against Real Sociedad and could also be unavailable for the following fixture against Osasuna.
More importantly, there are doubts over whether he will recover in time for the Madrid derby against Real Madrid.
That would be a major blow.
The derby is one of the biggest matches on Atlético’s calendar, and Simeone would ideally want his strongest midfield available for the occasion.
The manager does have alternatives. Players such as Koke, Conor Gallagher, and other midfield options could be asked to take greater responsibility while Barrios recovers.
Atlético have already endured a difficult period defensively, making the loss of another important midfielder even more significant.
Simeone has publicly praised Barrios and considers him one of the team’s most important midfielders.
The club will therefore avoid taking unnecessary risks with his recovery.
The international break could eventually provide Barrios with enough time to return, but Atlético must first navigate several matches without him.
For now, the focus will be on rehabilitation and ensuring the injury does not become more serious.
