ARTICLE AD
As Barcelona gear up to take on Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday night, the Blaugrana have been handed a boost in the form of an injury to an opponent player.
Indeed, as confirmed officially by Atletico Madrid, key defender Mario Hermoso has been ruled out of the contest against Barcelona due to a thigh injury.
“Mario Hermoso is suffering from a muscle injury in his left thigh, according to the tests that the Madrid centre-back has undergone at Vithas Hospital,” the statement from Los Rojiblancos read.
“The defender will begin physiotherapy sessions, will undergo rehabilitation training and is pending evolution.”
The 28-year-old is a regular starter for Atletico Madrid and has played 36 matches in all competitions this season, scoring two goals and setting up one more.
Along with Hermoso, Atletico Madrid are also likely to be without two other players in Thomas Lemar and Jose Maria Gimenez, both of whom are nursing injuries.
The absence of Hermoso and Gimenez does weaken Atletico Madrid’s defence, providing Barcelona with a great opportunity to bag all three points at the Civitas Metropolitano on Sunday night.
Barcelona interested in Hermoso
Intriguingly, Barcelona are understood to be interested in signing Mario Hermoso in the summer transfer window.
The 28-year-old’s current contract with Los Colchoneros expires at the end of the season and the Catalans are eyeing a free transfer swoop for the Spanish international.
As such, taking a closer look at him in action tomorrow night might have been beneficial. But Hermoso will now miss the La Liga encounter at the Civitas Metropolitano.