Rival watch: Atletico Madrid suffer major injury blow before crunch UCL tie

Another major injury blow for Atletico Madrid as Yannick Carrasco latest on injury list before Chelsea tie

A report by football.london mentions that Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco has suffered an injury before the Round of 16 UEFA Champions League clash against Chelsea.

The two sides meet in the first leg of the tie on Tuesday. The match will be played in Bucharest after the venue was changed from Spain amid the Covid-19 restrictions on travel in the country.

The Belgian international, who usually plays down the left flank for Atletico, has suffered a muscular injury on his left leg. He has been an important part of Diego Simeone’s side this season.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Yannick Carrasco suffered a muscle injury before the UEFA Champions League tie against Chelsea. (GETTY Images)
Atletico Madrid midfielder Yannick Carrasco suffered a muscle injury before the UEFA Champions League tie against Chelsea. (GETTY Images)

Carrasco has played 21 games in all competitions for Los Rojiblancos, who sit pretty at the top of the La Liga standings. In that time, he has had 3 goals and 5 assists. (h/t transfermarkt)

A mixed bag of news for Atletico

4 of Atletico’s group stage matches featured the 27-year-old. But he now looks set to miss the crunch Champions League tie. But the club has also had positive news regarding player injuries elsewhere.

Defender Jose Maria Gimenez and creative attacker Joao Felix both returned to action this week. On top of that, Thomas Lemar, who is also left sided midfielder, has been given the green light to play. (h/t football.london)

Jose Maria Gimenez is fit to play for Atletico Madrid.
Jose Maria Gimenez is fit to play for Atletico Madrid.

More Chelsea News:

Comparatively, Chelsea have a largely fit squad during this time of the season. Chelsea are unbeaten in Europe this season and would look to extend that run against the La Liga outfit.