Atletico Madrid Boost: Key Defender Returns, Simeone Eyes Midfield Reshuffle for Barcelona Clash

Atletico Madrid is poised to welcome back a crucial defender for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona this week. Marc Pubill, who has been an instrumental presence in central defense since his shift there six months ago, is expected to return to the starting lineup.

Pubill has been recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out for three weeks, following Atletico's Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Tottenham Hotspur. According to reports, he trained on Monday and Tuesday and is now anticipated to be fit to face Barcelona. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak and midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza also participated in training, with Oblak potentially reclaiming his spot in goal.

Gimenez to Miss Barcelona First Leg

In contrast, central defender Jose Maria Gimenez, an alternative to Pubill, is set to miss the upcoming match. The veteran Uruguayan is dealing with a calf problem and did not join group training on Tuesday. Like Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios, Gimenez is expected to be sidelined, though there is positive news that all three could target a return for the second leg. Barrios, who was initially rushing to be fit for the Copa del Rey final, might even make an earlier comeback.

Marcos Llorente in Midfield?

A key tactical decision for Diego Simeone's lineup revolves around the potential inclusion of Marcos Llorente in midfield. With Rodrigo Mendoza deemed unlikely to start such a high-stakes game alongside Koke Resurreccion, and with Barrios and Cardoso unavailable, Obed Vargas remains the only other natural central midfield option. Consequently, Llorente emerges as a probable candidate for a midfield role.

If Llorente moves into midfield, it would likely free up a spot, allowing either Nahuel Molina at right-back or Robin Le Normand in central defense to feature, with Pubill occupying the other position. Llorente previously shifted to midfield against Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, a move that proved effective in neutralizing Barcelona's attacks. However, a potential tactical consideration is the strong performance Marcus Rashford delivered against Molina and Le Normand recently.