Atletico Madrid confirm key injury doubt on eve of Arsenal semi-final showdown

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Evening Standard

·28 April 2026

Atletico Madrid confirm key injury doubt on eve of Arsenal semi-final showdown

Diego Simeone could be without influential attacker for Champions League first-leg tie against the Gunners

The Nigerian forward has been a key player for Diego Simeone’s side since joining from Serie A club Atalanta in a £30.3million transfer in January, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 18 appearances across all competitions so far.

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Lookman netted both against Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie and in the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, which Atletico - currently fourth in LaLiga - lost 4-3 on penalties following a dramatic 2-2 draw in Seville.

However, the 28-year-old picked up a groin injury in the final which was later diagnosed as muscle discomfort and he played no part in recent LaLiga matches against Elche and Athletic Club.

Hopes that Lookman would be available to face Arsenal on Wednesday night were boosted when he returned to training on the eve of the game, though Simeone has since confirmed that his status remains in question.

“We'll see if he recovers well tomorrow, because he was still feeling some discomfort today,” the Atletico boss said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “So we'll see if he can help us tomorrow or not.”

Also present at Atletico training on Tuesday was David Hancko, the versatile Slovakian defender who has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the first leg of the quarter-final tie against Barcelona.

Struggling: Ademola Lookman may not be fit to face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final first leg

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However, Los Rojiblancos will be without Pablo Barrios after the Spanish midfielder was forced off in the second half against Athletic Club on Saturday with another hamstring injury, having only just returned from a similar issue that kept him out for six weeks.

Barrios is reportedly set to be sidelined for another month, which would rule him out of both semi-final legs against Arsenal but could see him back in contention for the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30, should Atletico make it through.

Atletico have also been missing experienced defender Jose Maria Gimenez since the LaLiga game against Barcelona on April 4 because of a muscle complaint, though reported Arsenal transfer target Julian Alvarez is fit after his own muscle injury sustained in the Copa del Rey final.

Alvarez has not featured in any LaLiga game for Atletico since the 3-2 defeat by rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on March 22, with Simeone prioritising other competitions.

The former Manchester City star said earlier this week that he was “100 per cent” ready to face Arsenal, while fellow striker Alexander Sorloth is also available after returning from his own knock against Athletic Club.