Barcelona’s trip to the Metropolitano suddenly looks a little different because of an injury. Pablo Barrios will not be available for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final after picking up a muscle problem in his right thigh.
The problem flared up during Atlético de Madrid’s emphatic 5-0 win over Real Betis. Barrios, one of Atlético Madrid’s most reliable midfield engines this season, had already been dealing with physical issues in recent weeks, and it culminated in a muscle problem. He lasted
barely ten minutes of the second half before limping off, and subsequent tests confirmed a muscle injury that will keep him out for close to a month.
That window rules him out of the Copa clash with Barcelona on February 12 and a demanding stretch that also includes UEFA Champions League ties against Club Brugge and several La Liga fixtures. Atlético are hopeful he might be available for the return leg at Camp Nou on March 3, but even that remains on the edge of the recovery timeline.
Barrios had become central to how Atlético played, and he’s a miss for Diego Simeone for sure. Known for covering ground, pressing aggressively, and being able to pick out a pass, Barrios was a key ingredient for them. Against Real Betis, he was again setting the tone before the injury cut his night short. Replacing him simply is not straightforward.
The options are there, though none feel like a direct swap. Johnny Cardoso is still working his way back from a muscle issue and may not be ready in time. Koke, who seemed destined for a reduced role earlier in the season, is now a leading candidate to start. Simeone has leaned on him more than expected, and the captain has responded with a run of solid performances.
Marcos Llorente is another option. He has spent much of the campaign filling in at right-back, but his second-half shift into midfield in Seville was a reminder of where he built his reputation.
Simeone also has a promising youngster to call upon, if he so chose. After the Betis match, Simeone spoke openly about 20-year-old Rodrigo Mendoza as a possible solution.
“Rodrigo came to play there in midfield and he will surely help us,” he said. “He is at the beginning of his career, but we told him that here, age is no matter. Players with talent and work play, whether they are 35 or 20.”
Barrios is exactly the kind of midfielder who can disrupt Barça’s rhythm, especially in a high-intensity first leg away from home. However, Atlético do have other options to plug the gap for the upcoming match.
