Barrios suffers fresh injury scare four days before Arsenal | OneFootball

Pablo Barrios gave Atlético another scare, limping off in the second half with a left thigh issue, four days before Arsenal.

As reported by as.com, after a midfield tussle and an awkward landing he put the ball out and asked to be replaced, with Cardoso sent on.

He is awaiting further tests to determine the extent of the problem and whether he could feature against Arsenal, at least in the second leg. Recent cases point to pessimism, although he has returned quickly from similar issues before.

This was a fitness examination for the academy graduate. The plan had been a comeback at Elche, then roughly an hour here against Athletic, but he signalled discomfort shortly before reaching that mark.

It is his third injury in three consecutive months. On five February he was hurt in the Betis-Atlético Copa tie and missed nine matches. He returned on 10 March against Tottenham, played 22 minutes, then stopped again with a different muscle issue.

He sat out seven games, missed a Spain call-up, and though he was back for the Copa final he did not play. He featured after the break at Elche and lasted 58 minutes against Athletic. Grim news for Atlético before the Arsenal double-header on Wednesday 29 and Tuesday five May.

Source: as.com