A low‑grade thigh injury has sidelined USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso for Atletico Madrid’s next LaLiga game, raising questions ahead of a Champions League showdown.
Key points
- Cardoso’s low‑grade thigh injury rules him out of the upcoming Levante match.
- His fitness for the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich is still unconfirmed.
- Atletico will rely on other midfielders such as Llorente, Barrios and Baena to fill the void left by Cardoso and Koke.
According to AS.com, 25‑year‑old Johnny Cardoso has been ruled out of Atletico Madrid’s LaLiga match against Levante after a thigh injury suffered during the club’s Champions League game with Stuttgart on Oct. 20.
Cardoso entered the 1‑1 draw with Stuttgart for the final 21 minutes, but reported discomfort toward the end of the match; subsequent medical examinations identified a low‑grade muscle injury in his thigh.
Injury details
Since the injury, the USMNT midfielder has been undergoing physiotherapy and gym‑based rehabilitation, causing him to miss Atletico’s recent victory over Deportivo and leaving his participation in Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Bayern Munich uncertain.
Coach Diego Simeone is expected to field a line‑up similar to the one that will face Bayern, with Cuti Romero returning to central defence and Giuliano back after being rested, while midfield options such as Llorente, Barrios and Baena remain under consideration in Cardoso’s absence.
Impact on upcoming fixtures
The injury comes on the heels of Cardoso’s recent bout of gastroenteritis that kept him out of the earlier match against Espanyol, compounding the midfield shortage alongside teammate Koke, who also has not recovered.
Reader questions
What type of injury does Johnny Cardoso have?
Medical examinations confirmed a low‑grade muscle injury in his thigh, sustained during the Champions League game against Stuttgart.
When might Card Cardoso return to action?
Atletico Madrid have not announced a definitive return date; he will continue physiotherapy while the club assesses his readiness for the Bayern Munich match.
How will Cardoso’s absence affect Atletico’s midfield?
Coach Diego Simeone will have to rely on Llorente, Barrios, Baena and other squad members to cover the midfield roles for both the Levante game and the upcoming Champions League fixture.
Source: en.as.com
