Cristian Romero to Miss Around 10 Days With Minor Atletico Madrid Injury
Atletico Madrid have been handed a significant injury boost after tests confirmed Cristian Romero’s adductor problem is only a low-grade muscle strain, with the Argentina captain expected to be out for around 10 to 12 days.
Romero was forced to ask for a substitution during the second half of Atletico’s match at Espanyol in Cornella, prompting fears of a longer absence. The examination results have eased those concerns, although Diego Simeone will be without his first-choice centre-back for the immediate run of fixtures.
The 2022 World Cup winner will not travel with the squad to Germany on Monday for Tuesday’s Champions League game against Stuttgart. He has also been ruled out of Saturday’s La Liga meeting with Deportivo at the Metropolitano.
Atletico are targeting the away match against Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia the following week for Romero’s return, but the club will take no unnecessary risks. The priority is to have him fully ready for a defining seven-day stretch that brings Bayern Munich to Madrid in the Champions League before a league clash with Barcelona the following Sunday.
Romero’s absence comes as Atletico look to strengthen their position in both competitions. They sit second in La Liga on 22 points, five behind leaders Barcelona, while their European campaign recovered from an opening 2-1 loss at Liverpool with a 2-0 home win over Manchester United.
The defender has become central to Atletico’s improved defensive record since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur this summer for about £34.2 million on a five-year contract. He has played eight times in all competitions and scored once, with that goal proving decisive against Alaves in La Liga.
