Atletico boss Simeone sweating on Griezmann fitness
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is a serious doubt for next week's Copa del Rey semifinal return leg after suffering a twisted ankle of "moderate" seriousness.
Inter Milan's Henrikh Mkhitaryan (L) vies with Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st leg match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in Milan, Italy, Feb.20, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
Griezmann, who scored 19 goals in all competitions all season, had to limp out of his side's 1-0 defeat in the first leg of its Champions League last-16 tie away to Inter Milan on Tuesday night and had tests back in Madrid on Wednesday.
"Antoine Griezmann has suffered moderate ankle sprain," explained the communique issued by Atletico's medical services, although it didn't give a return date, explaining that "depends on how the injury evolves."
Griezmann will certainly miss Atletico's La Liga visit to play bottom of the table Almeria on Saturday and be doubtful to play in Bilbao on February 29.
Atletico lost the first leg of its Copa del Rey semifinal 1-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao a fortnight ago, with the Basque side ending its 28-match unbeaten run at home.
Central defender Jose Gimenez also looks likely to miss out on the Copa del Rey after the Uruguayan was forced out of Tuesday's game with another in a long line of muscle injuries at halftime.
The good news for Atletico was that Spain international Alvaro Morata played as a second half substitute in the game, less than two weeks after suffering a twisted knee that was expected to keep him out of action between three weeks and a month.