Atletico Madrid have lost a third centre-back after Jose Maria Gimenez was confirmed out for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Gimenez pulled up in the dying embers of Atleti’s 2-1 defeat to Sporting Gijon on Saturday after a collision with Antonio Sanabria, and the club’s official website has now revealed the presence of a “second-degree muscle injury in his right hamstring”.
The ailment has already ruled the 21-year-old out of Uruguay’s upcoming games and renders him a serious doubt for the first leg of Los Colchoneros’ Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona.
Gimenez follows Stefan Savic and Diego Godin as Atleti centre-backs on the treatment table, leaving Lucas Hernandez as the club’s only recognised and fit central defender.
However, Savic is due back after the international break, thus averting the possibility of midfielder Saul Niguez partnering Lucas in the heart of defence.
