Atletico Madrid hit with major injury lay-off as defender is ruled out

Atletico Madrid wil be with out one in every of their key defenders for the heavy schedule that awaits them in January and February, after Clement Lenglet suffered a major damage of their Copa del Rey conflict in opposition to Atletico Baleares. The French defender has not been beginning of late, however is a crucial depth piece for Los Colchoneros.

Squeezing previous Baleares 3-2, regardless of the fourth-tier aspect seeing a number of possibilities and a penalty halted by goalkeeper Juan Musso, their progress to the Spherical of 16 didn’t come with out value. Lenglet exited the sport within the first half, after stretching for a ball and getting his studs caught within the floor, resulting in a twisted knee. He did stroll off beneath his personal weight.

💣🚨 BREAKING: Marcos Llorente is again in coaching with the workforce!@marca pic.twitter.com/5B7eTmqR17

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) December 18, 2025

Lenglet dominated out for 2 months

In response to Marca, Lenglet is ready for a two-month lay-off because of his damage. The official analysis is a excessive sprain of his knee ligaments, following additional assessments. His return might be in mid-February, which is able to maintain him out of a minimal of 10 video games, which might enhance relying on Atletico’s progress within the Champions League, Spanish Supercup and Copa del Rey. On the very least, he’ll miss the derby conflict with Actual Madrid in Saudi Arabia within the Supercup, and the rest of the Champions League league section. He might additionally miss the primary leg of a play-off tie between the 2.

Diego Simeone’s options

These days, Atletico have been beginning Jose Maria Gimenez, David Hancko or Marc Pubill in central defence, who’re all performing effectively. As well as, Robin Le Normand is getting again to full health after his personal damage points. Simeone might be all too conscious that he should proceed to rotate Gimenez although in an effort to have him contemporary and match for the decisive section of the season, whereas Pubill and Hancko have and might be utilised at full-back too.