As Atletico Madrid prepare for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal, all eyes are on Julian Alvarez after the striker was spotted testing his injured ankle during Monday night's training session at the Emirates Stadium.
The 26-year-old, who has been Atletico's top scorer this season, was forced off in the second half of the first leg last Wednesday following a heavy challenge. The injury subsequently kept him out of Atletico's weekend La Liga fixture, raising serious doubts about his availability for Tuesday's crucial clash.
However, Alvarez did travel with the squad to London on Monday, offering a glimmer of hope for manager Diego Simeone. But eagle-eyed journalists at the Emirates noticed the Argentine working separately with club physiotherapist Oscar Pitillas, performing a series of exercises designed to test the strength and mobility of his ankle before joining the main group for training.
From an optimistic perspective, the fact that Alvarez was able to take part in the session suggests he may have passed those tests. But the need for specialized treatment just 24 hours before kick-off is a worrying sign—especially given his importance as Atletico's leading marksman. If he's not fully fit, Simeone faces a tough decision: start him and risk aggravating the injury, or leave him on the bench and hope for a cameo appearance.
Elsewhere, Atletico will definitely be without Nicolas Gonzalez and Pablo Barrios, who were not named in the travelling squad. Their injury comebacks will have to wait for another day.
On a brighter note, defender Jose Maria Gimenez has made the trip to London after missing the first leg and the weekend's La Liga action. While his presence suggests he's close to returning from his own injury layoff, it may be too soon to thrust him straight into the starting eleven after eight games on the sidelines.
With so much at stake in this semi-final decider, Atletico's injury concerns could prove decisive. Fans will be anxiously waiting for the official team sheet to see if their star striker is ready to lead the line.