Atletico Madrid issue statement after suffering double blow ahead of Arsenal clash | Football
Atletico Madird are facing an anxious wait over the fitness of two key players ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal.
Diego Simeone’s side face the Gunners in the first leg of their last four showdown on home soil in just nine days’ time.
Both Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth face races against time to Copa del Rey final defeat against Real Sociedad.
Both forwards have featured prominently this season and will likely miss theupcoming league games against Elche and Athletic Bilbao.
‘Lookman and Sørloth will train separately from the group for the next few days; maximum precaution to avoid the risk of injury,’ read a statement on the club’s website.
Real Sociedad beat Atletico on penalties to win the cup, giving American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo his first title since he moved to Spain this season.
After the game finished 2-2 following extra time, Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero saved efforts from Alexander Sorloth and Julián Alvare, while Pablo Marín converted the last kick to clinch the shootout 4-3.
‘I knew that if we got to penalties, I believed in myself, my teammates believed in me, our fans believed in me,’ the 24-year-old Marrero said before the winners received the trophy and medals from Spanish King Felipe VI.
‘I still can’t believe it,’ Marrero said. ‘The boy who dreamed about this since he was young has fulfilled his dream.’
Atletico will now turn its focus to possible European glory and a place in the Champions League final at the expense of faltering Arsenal.
‘We fought back from the 1-0 and 2-1 and had chances to win it. We can only congratulate our rival, which was more clinical at key moments,’ said Simeone, who after a point-blank miss by Alex Baena in the final minutes went down on his hands and knees with his head briefly pressed to the turf.
‘We want to win the Champions League,’ Atletico’s veteran midfielder Koke added. ‘
‘But tonight is a hard night. We will have time to think about the Champions League.’
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Atletico Madrid issue statement after suffering double blow ahead of Arsenal clash | Football
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