Barrios, Sorloth, Gimenez and Oblak expected to be available for Osasuna clash

Pablo Barrios, Alexander Sorloth, Jose Maria Gimenez and Jan Oblak worked on the sidelines at Atletico Madrid's training session on Tuesday, the second of the week ahead of Sunday's clash against Osasuna at the Metropolitano.

All of them are expected to be available on Sunday. Oblak, Barrios, Sorloth and, predictably, Gimenez, who suffered a muscle injury in the last game of the year against Barcelona on 21st December. He did not play in the Copa del Rey against Marbella, in the round of 32 with a 0-1 win, and it remains to be seen if he will finally make it to the match.

Thomas Lemar, who missed the last game at La Rosaleda, has already rejoined the squad and is now at Simeone's disposal.

While awaiting the availability of all of them, the Argentine coach outlined his first ideas for the starting eleven against Osasuna, with the alternatives of Robin Le Normand for Jose Maria Gimenez, as already happened at La Rosaleda, and Samuel Lino for Pablo Barrios, with the move of Conor Gallagher to midfield, although the home-grown player is expected to be ready for the match.

In principle, with Oblak replacing Juan Musso in goal, Nahuel Molina would hold down the right-back position at the expense of Marcos Llorente, and Javi Galan would continue on the left, as would Clement Lenglet in the centre of defence, either with Le Normand or Gimenez.

In midfield, Rodrigo de Paul will line up in central midfield, presumably alongside Barrios, if he is recovered from the ankle knock, with Giuliano Simeone on the right and either Conor Gallagher or Samuel Lino on the left.

Up front, Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann will be the first choice for the starting eleven, as usual in the last two months, with Sorloth, who is nursing a knee knock, as an alternative.

 

January 7, 2025