Key Takeaways:
- Atletico Madrid will have Julian Alvarez, Ademola Lookman, and David Hancko back for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal at the Metropolitano
- Pablo Barrios suffered a hamstring relapse on Saturday night and is expected to be sidelined for around a month, making him a doubt even for the potential final
- Jose Maria Gimenez will miss the upcoming fixture as he continues to recover from a muscle injury sustained last month
Squad Returns Offer Boost for Simeone
Diego Simeone has received encouraging news ahead of Atletico Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final meeting with Arsenal on Wednesday. Following recent absences due to muscle problems, Julian Alvarez, Ademola Lookman, and David Hancko – all regular starters – are anticipated to be available for the crucial first leg at the Metropolitano, which is set to kick off at 21:00 CEST.
🚨 Ademola Lookman and David Hancko are training with the team again!
[via @nachodonado] pic.twitter.com/CgPrev4u4r
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) April 28, 2026
Fitness Updates on Key Players
All three players have missed matches since the Copa del Rey final owing to muscular issues. However, over the weekend, Alvarez confirmed to Marca regarding his readiness, stating, “Yes, I’m at 100%. The Cup was a tough blow because we were so excited, we reached the final, and now we have these Champions League semi-finals. We’re fighting for everything. It’s true that we’ve fallen behind in the league, but last year in March we were out of contention, and now, having reached the final, we’re very proud. Now we have to recover from this setback, and we’re going to give it our all to reach the final.” Alvarez’s statement follows his absence in Atletico’s 3-2 victory over Athletic Club on Saturday night.
Ademola Lookman is also on track for a return. Speaking to Marca during Monday’s media obligations, Lookman said, “I missed the last few games, but now I’m much better.” Meanwhile, Simeone has given a similarly positive assessment of David Hancko; the Slovakian defender is likewise expected to feature against Arsenal.
Absentees for First Leg
Despite the welcome returns, Atletico will remain without two squad members for this semi-final encounter. Jose Maria Gimenez continues his recovery following a muscle problem sustained last month. In addition, Pablo Barrios suffered a relapse from a previous hamstring injury on Saturday night, and he has been ruled out for around a month. Although a return for a potential Champions League final cannot be ruled out, Barrios’ participation remains uncertain.
| Player | Status for 1st Leg vs Arsenal | Injury Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Julian Alvarez | Available | Recovered from muscle discomfort |
| Ademola Lookman | Available | Recovered from muscle issue |
| David Hancko | Available | Recovered from muscle issue |
| Jose Maria Gimenez | Unavailable | Ongoing muscle problem since last month |
| Pablo Barrios | Unavailable | Hamstring relapse on Saturday night; out approximately one month |
