Alarm at Atlético over Julián Álvarez: race for the Champions League | OneFootball

At Atlético de Madrid, the atmosphere already feels like a Champions League semifinal. Behind closed doors, attention is focused on the physical condition of several players ahead of the clash with Arsenal, which will take place on Wednesday in Spain. Among them, Julián Álvarez’s situation is causing particular concern.

According to Marca, the Argentine forward is dealing with thigh discomfort that has raised alarms within the coaching staff. Although he was included in the squad against Athletic Bilbao, he did not play—a clear sign of the extreme caution they decided to take.

His absence from the pre-match activity and during the game was no coincidence. The former River player did not even do the usual warm-up exercises, even though the initial intention was to give him some minutes to avoid a prolonged spell of inactivity before the European showdown.

Diego Simeone chose to protect him from any greater risk. Although he remained on the bench as an option, the coach preferred not to push him after the first physical signs that made it necessary to activate the recovery protocol.

The striker had already begun treatment before traveling to the stadium. Accompanied by the medical staff, he started specific sessions to ease the discomfort and speed up recovery, with the aim of being fit for the key match.

Meanwhile, the club is working cautiously but without losing optimism. The idea is that, through rest and physiotherapy, he can put the muscle issue behind him and be available against the English side.

The main question mark is his lack of competitive rhythm. He has not played since the Copa del Rey final, when he delivered a decisive performance against Real Sociedad (he scored a stunning goal but then missed his penalty in the shootout). Cholo Simeone hopes to have his star player in top condition for the Champions League semifinals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.