With a formidable three-goal cushion, Atletico Madrid aims to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals as they face Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie on Wednesday. However, a potential absence looms large over the Spanish side as they prepare for this crucial encounter in North London.
Diego Simeone’s squad is already grappling with the absence of key midfielder Pablo Barrios, who has been sidelined by an injury sustained earlier this month. Compounding their challenges, goalkeeper Jan Oblak is also a doubt for the clash, having missed Atletico’s recent victory over Getafe. According to reports from Marca, the 33-year-old may not recover in time to join the squad for the trip to England.
Oblak is nursing a muscle strain and Atletico’s medical team are prioritising caution in his recovery process. As a result, he was absent from training on Sunday, which raises concerns about his availability for the pivotal match.
Confidence in the backup goalkeeper
While there remains a slim chance that Oblak could make an appearance against Spurs, the prospect appears unlikely at this stage. Should he be ruled out, Juan Musso is set to step up between the posts, following a commendable display in the previous match against Getafe.
Wednesday’s showdown promises to be a challenging one for Atletico Madrid, as Tottenham will be eager to overturn their 5-2 defeat from the first leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. With their backs against the wall, Spurs will be relentless in their pursuit to claw back into the tie over the remaining 90 minutes. Regardless of who is tasked with guarding the net, Atletico’s goalkeeper will undoubtedly be busy, and while Simeone may prefer to have Oblak available, he is resolutely confident in Musso’s ability to thwart the Premier League side’s advances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
