Atlético Madrid Have Been Dealt A Huge Setback Ahead Of Their UEFA Champions League Opener Against Liverpool At Anfield, With Star Striker Julián Alvarez And Midfielder Johnny Cardoso Both Ruled Out Through Injury.
Alvarez, Who Scored 29 Goals And Registered Eight Assists Across All Competitions Last Season, Had Been Expected To Lead The Line For Diego Simeone’s Side. The Argentine Forward Assisted Atlético’s First Goal In Their Recent 2–0 Victory Over Villarreal But Was Forced Off At Half-Time After Picking Up A Knee Injury.
Manager Diego Simeone Initially Played Down Fears After The Villarreal Win, Saying: “Let’s Hope It’s Nothing And He’s Back As Soon As Possible.” However, Despite Local Reports Suggesting Alvarez Has Avoided A Serious Issue, The Striker Continues To Experience Discomfort And Has Been Excluded From The Travelling Squad To England.
His Absence Leaves A Big Gap In Atlético’s Attack. Norwegian Forward Alexander Sørloth Is Expected To Partner Antoine Griezmann Up Front, With Giacomo Raspadori Also In Contention For A Starting Spot.
Adding To Simeone’s Selection Headache, United States International Johnny Cardoso Will Also Miss The Clash. The 23-Year-Old Midfielder Suffered An Ankle Sprain During Training On Monday, Just Days Before The Trip To Anfield. Cardoso Had Been Tipped To Feature Prominently In Midfield, Making His Absence A Significant Blow.
Liverpool Will Head Into The Match As Favourites, Especially Given Their Strong Start To The Season And The Home Advantage At Anfield. Atlético, Known For Their Defensive Discipline And Counter-Attacking Threat, Will Need To Rely On Depth And Experience To Cope Without Their Injured Stars.
For Simeone, The Challenge Will Be Balancing Defensive Solidity With Attacking Threat Against A Liverpool Side That Rarely Struggles For Goals On Home Turf.
Author: Abdul Noah Ocholi | Sports Market International
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