Atlético Madrid Prepares for Barcelona Clash: Romero the Only Absentee
Atlético de Madrid are already living in Barcelona’s shadow. Not in the table, but in their heads. Every drill, every sprint at the training ground on Friday carried the weight of a match that could tilt the LaLiga EA Sports title race.
Diego Simeone worked with almost a full squad. Almost.
Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero was the lone absentee from the session, the only player unavailable through injury as Atlético sharpened their plans for Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at the Metropolitano. His absence stood out precisely because everyone else was there.
Simeone still has one more chance to fine‑tune things in Saturday’s final workout, but the picture is already clear: the core of his team is intact, and two important names are back in the frame.
Midfield reinforced at the right time
Morten Hjulmand returns to domestic duty after serving a suspension in the Champions League. The Danish midfielder missed Tuesday’s 0-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, paying the price for his sending-off against Stuttgart on the previous European matchday. His presence instantly stiffens Atlético’s spine in the centre of the pitch.
Alongside him, Johnny Cardoso is back. The American has shaken off a minor muscle problem that sidelined him for three consecutive matches — against Deportivo de La Coruña, Levante and Bayern. The medical staff now consider him fully recovered, handing Simeone another reliable option in midfield at precisely the stage of the season when legs begin to feel heavier.
With Hjulmand and Cardoso available again, the coach can restore balance and aggression in the middle of the park, a key battleground against a Barcelona side that prefers to dictate rhythm and territory.
Seven wins, one prize: the top spot
Sunday’s meeting is more than a glamour fixture. It is a straight fight for the lead.
Barcelona travel to the Metropolitano holding a two-point advantage at the top of LaLiga EA Sports. Atlético, driven by seven consecutive league victories, have hauled themselves into position to strike. Win, and they overtake the Catalans in front of their own crowd. Lose, and the gap suddenly looks a lot wider than the numbers suggest.
Form, momentum, and home advantage all lean towards the red-and-white side. The missing piece is Romero, whose injury denies Simeone one more defensive option as he shapes his starting XI and final squad list.
Everything else is in place. The stadium, the stakes, the run of wins, the returning midfielders.
Now it comes down to 90 minutes that could redraw the top of LaLiga.
