Atletico Madrid have been dealt a significant injury blow ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona with Johnny Cardoso set to miss the first leg.
The American midfielder was forced off at half-time during the United States' friendly against Belgium with a grade one muscle strain in his left thigh. He faces 10 to 14 days on the sidelines, which rules him out of the La Liga meeting with Barcelona on Saturday April 4 and puts the UCL first leg on April 8 in serious doubt.
Alexander Sorloth is expected to be available despite a fitness concern during the international break, giving Simeone some relief in attack.
The news arrives just as Atletico prepare for arguably the most important ten-day stretch of their season. They face Barcelona three times and must navigate both the league title race and a Champions League quarter-final without one of their key midfield anchors. Simeone is expected to start with Koke and Saul or De Paul in the pivot instead.
