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New Memphis injury at Atletico sidelines him for Champions League
Memphis Depay out for Champions League quarter-finals with Atlético Madrid
Diego Simeone, coach of Atlético Madrid, will once again be without forward Memphis Depay for at least three weeks, including the two matches against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and the league clashes with Girona and Alavés, following a muscle injury.
Monday's medical tests determined the extent of the Dutch attacker's ailment. "Memphis Depay has a muscle injury in his left leg (...). The international striker ended training last Saturday with discomfort and tests have confirmed his injury," the club's medical report stated.
"Memphis will undergo physiotherapy sessions and rehabilitation work in the gym. The evolution of his injury will determine his return to group training," added Atlético, which did not specify the player's recovery period, although these types of muscle injuries typically require at least three weeks, if not more, to return to play.
This means he will at least miss the double clash against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals this week and the next, as well as the match against Girona next Saturday at the Metropolitano, and the visit to Alavés in Vitoria the following matchday, and possibly against Athletic Club at home, depending on his recovery.
If the injury recovery extends beyond three weeks, and Atlético progresses past the quarter-finals of the top European competition, his participation in the first leg of the semifinals would be in doubt.
In the league, Atlético has eight games left against Girona, Alavés, Athletic Club, Mallorca, Celta, Getafe, Osasuna, and Real Sociedad, in that order, of which he will miss at least the first two.
This marks the sixth injury suffered by Memphis Depay since his transfer to Atlético Madrid in January 2023. Transferred from Barcelona, he has missed 24 games due to injury since then (11 in 2022-23 and 13 in 2023-24); he has been available for 42 games, of which he played 37; he started in 14 and contributed 13 goals and two assists.
Since November 25th, in the 1-0 victory against Mallorca, when he returned from his last muscle injury, he had played 24 of Atlético's last 28 matches, nine of them as a starter, scoring seven goals. The most recent was on
March 13th for the comeback against Inter in the Champions League round of 16.