Oblak has been one of the main pillars of Diego Simeone’s team in recent years. However, a recent muscle strain forced him off the pitch, and his Argentine teammate made the most of the opportunity.

Musso was one of the standout performers in the match where Atletico Madrid eliminated FC Barcelona from the 2026 UEFA Champions League. Can he become a hero in this competition as well?

Confirmed lineup for Atletico Madrid

With Jan Oblak confirmed on the bench, these are the eleven selected by Diego Simeone to face Real Sociedad: Juan Musso; Mateo Ruggeri, Robin Le Normand, Marc Pubill, Nahuel Molina; Giuliano Simeone, Koke, Marcos Llorente, Ademola Lookman; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.

In pursuit of a new title in the Copa del Rey

The Atletico Madrid have a rich and storied history in the Copa del Rey, having secured the title 10 times throughout their history. Their most recent triumph occurred in 2013, when they defeated Real Madrid in a memorable 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, ending a long drought against their cross-town rivals.

Regarding their most recent appearance on the big stage, the last time the Colchoneros played a Copa del Rey final was in 2013. While they have reached several semi-finals in the years since, they have not returned to the championship match since that historic night in Madrid. This puts them among the elite clubs in Spanish football, trailing only Barcelona, Athletic Club, and Real Madrid in total titles won.

Eyes also set on the UEFA Champions League

Atletico Madrid are set to face Arsenal in the semi-finals of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. The first leg will take place at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, followed by the decisive second leg at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

This high-stakes matchup marks a crucial moment for Diego Simeone‘s squad as they aim to reach the European final after successfully navigating a challenging quarter-final stage against Barcelona.

In his place, the Argentine Juan Musso will start as the first-choice, having been performing in that role for some time now. The home side holds a two-goal advantage over its opponent.

The winner of this tie will automatically qualify for the semifinals of the competition. There, they will face the winner of the matchup between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon, with the Gunners holding a 1–0 advantage from the first leg.

The injury that has Oblak struggling

Jan Oblak’s availability remains a primary concern for Atletico Madrid as the veteran goalkeeper struggles with persistent fitness issues. The Slovenian international has been dealing with recurring discomfort that forced him out of the lineup recently; notably, Oblak was a late scratch in the LaLiga EA Sports match against Getafe on March 14.

With the medical staff monitoring his recovery closely, the club is focused on managing his workload to ensure its captain can return to full strength for the final stretch of the season.

Absences for the visiting team

FC Barcelona face a significant setback in their attacking line as they adapt to the loss of Raphinha following the recent FIFA window. The Brazilian international was sidelined due to a hamstring injury suffered during the international break, leaving a void in the squad’s creative output.

As a result, Raphinha is not playing in the club’s upcoming fixtures, forcing the coaching staff to reshuffle its tactical approach while the medical team focuses on his recovery and rehabilitation.

Due to a tactical decision by the coach, both Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski will start the match on the bench.

With his absence at Spotify Camp Nou, Oblak will miss his fifth straight game for Atletico Madrid. Moreover, it will be the third time he misses a game in the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League. To date, this is Atleti’s biggest game of the season, as “Los Colchoneros” vie to come away with a positive result before returning to Madrid for the second leg of this quarterfinal matchup with Barcelona.

Oblak’s absence could be one of the biggest difference-makers in a tight matchup between the two Spanish sides. Barca and Atleti met over the past weekend in Matchweek 30 of La Liga, and it was the former who prevailed by a score of 2-1. However, that result is now worthless as the two sides meet in Europe’s biggest soccer club competition.

Barcelona have their fair share of adversity, too. Raphinha will miss the first leg matchup against Atletico Madrid, as well as Frenkie De Jong who is out for the game, too.

How has Atletico Madrid fared without Oblak?

Since Oblak sustained a muscle injury during a training session on March 13, Diego Simeone’s side has won just one of its last four outings. That was a 1-0 victory over Getafe. Since, Atletico Madrid lost 3-2 to Tottenham in the UCL (won 7-5 on aggregate), and suffered back-to-back defeats against Real Madrid and Barcelona, 3-2 and 2-1, respectively.

Needless to say, their fixture hasn’t been a walk in the park, but Atletico Madrid haven’t managed to come away with wins when they needed it the most. That must change as they visit the Comital City and take on a strong candidate to win the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

Who will replace Oblak in goal?

As it’s been the case since Oblak went down with a muscle injury, Argentinian goalkeeper Juan Musso will stand between the three posts for Atletico Madrid. So far, Musso has appeared in two games in the 2025-26 UCL, allowing four goals, and recording no clean sheets. Perhaps, his third start is the charm.

Simeone’s team will have four Argentinians in its starting XI: with the likes of Musso, Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, and Julian Alvarez. Moreover, fellow countrymen Nicolas Gonzalez and Thiago Almada will await for their turn on the substitues’ bench.

The Slovenian goalkeeper has been dealing with a muscle strain in his side, which also forced him to miss previous matches, and he has not fully recovered in time for this crucial soccer clash.

The setback comes at a difficult moment for Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone already forced to rotate his squad during a demanding stretch of the season. Without their long-time No. 1, the club must adjust their defensive approach.

How and when did Jan Oblak get injured?

Jan Oblak is currently sidelined for Atletico Madrid after suffering a muscle injury in his side during March 2026, which forced him to miss multiple matches including LaLiga fixtures against Getafe and Real Madrid.

According to reports from the club’s latest updates, he has been dealing with a muscular strain that required rest and a controlled recovery process. During his absence, Juan Musso has taken over as the starting goalkeeper for Diego Simeone’s side.

When could Jan Oblak return from injury?

Jan Oblak is expected to return soon for Atletico Madrid, as he has already rejoined group training and is close to full fitness, but he is not expected to feature in the immediate clash against Barcelona. His recovery has progressed well after several weeks out.

Recent reports indicate that Diego Simeone is managing his return carefully, with the goalkeeper likely to be available shortly after the Barcelona match depending on his final training sessions. The club expects him to be fully reintegrated into competition in the very near future if no setbacks occur.

How important is Jan Oblak for Atletico Madrid this season?

Jan Oblak remains a key player for Atlético Madrid in the 2025-26 season, starting as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper and playing a central role in Diego Simeone’s defensive system.

The Slovenian has already made 26 LaLiga appearances this season, recording 10 clean sheets and 58 saves, while conceding 24 goals, underlining his continued importance between the posts.

The goalkeeper’s consistency has once again placed him among the top-performing shot-stoppers in Spain, with a save percentage close to 70% and more than 2,300 minutes played in the league campaign so far.

Despite a slight decline compared to his peak years, he still ranks among the most reliable keepers in LaLiga in terms of clean sheets and defensive stability. Beyond the numbers, his value to the club goes far deeper than statistics.

Since his joining in 2014, he has accumulated over 500 appearances and become one of the longest-serving and most influential players in the squad’s modern era, recently reaching historic milestones such as over 100 Champions League appearances and multiple Zamora awards for best goalkeeper in Spain.

His absence comes as a significant development for the Spanish club, given his role as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in LaLiga and a cornerstone of Diego Simeone’s system.

Facing Alvaro Arbeloa‘s team without their first-choice goalkeeper adds an extra layer of difficulty for Atletico Madrid in a match that could have major implications in the title race and European qualification spots. Follow Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid live with us and don’t miss a single thing!

What happened to Jan Oblak?

Oblak felt discomfort during the final training session before the LaLiga match against Getafe on March 14. Medical tests confirmed a muscle strain, forcing him to miss the Getafe match as well as the Tottenham game before the Madrid derby.

In Oblak’s absence, backup goalkeeper Juan Musso has stepped in and delivered solid performances, even sparking debate about the competition for the starting role. Still, Oblak remains the undisputed first choice when healthy.

When could Jan Oblak return to play?

Jan Oblak could return within the next few matches, as his injury is not believed to be long-term, but his availability depends on medical clearance. Early indications suggest the issue is a manageable muscle strain rather than a severe setback.

Atletico Madrid are expected to take a cautious approach, especially with crucial fixtures approaching in LaLiga and European competitions. For now, he remains day-to-day, and a return could come soon if he resumes training without discomfort. Until then, Atletico will continue to rely on Musso, while closely monitoring their captain’s recovery ahead of key matches.

Oblak was a late scratch in the LaLiga EA Sports match against Getafe on March 14. During the final training session before that game, he experienced discomfort in his side, and medical tests later confirmed a muscle strain that has kept him sidelined since then.

Atletico Madrid aim to protect the 5-2 lead they built in the first leg. Oblak, meanwhile, is still considered doubtful for the upcoming LaLiga derby against Real Madrid on Sunday.

Who replaces Oblak?

The moment has arrived for Juan Musso, 31, who has proven to be a reliable backup when called upon. Whether in Copa del Rey matches over the past two seasons or in four LaLiga appearances where he kept clean sheets, Musso now steps into a much larger role for Atletico Madrid.

However, he won’t have to deal with Richarlison, who isn’t playing for Tottenham due to yellow card accumulation.

Other key absences for Simeone

The squad list released by Diego Simeone for this Champions League clash against Tottenham at the Metropolitano includes several absences due to injury, with Oblak, Barrios, and Mendoza all unavailable. These setbacks force Atletico Madrid to adjust as they look to close out the series. Here’s Simeone’s final list:

• Goalkeepers: Juan Musso, Salvi Esquivel, Maria De Luis.
• Defenders: Jose Gimenez, Clement Lenglet, David Hancko, Marc Pubill, Le Normand, Mateo Ruggeri, Nahuel Molina, Julio Diaz.
• Midfielders: Johnny Cardoso, Koke, Alejandro Baena, Marcos Llorente, Giuliano Simeone, Thiago Almadas, Obed Vargas, Nico Gonzales.
• Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman, Alexander Sorloth, Julian Alvarez.

Atletico confirmed lineup

Atletico Madrid start with the following lineup against Tottenham: Musso, Molina, Hancko, Le Normand, Ruggeri, Cardoso, Llorente, Giovanni Simeone, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez.

According to Transfermarkt the following XI are the most expensive players at their positions based on age and market value. There are some glaring omissions such as Erling Haaland, Thiago Alcantara, and Bruno Fernandes.

The total value of this starting XI is €1.01 billion! Many of these players will eventually be sold to other clubs in the future and for a lot higher than their market value indicates. Here is the most expensive XI in World Soccer!

Jan Oblak – Goalkeeper – €70 million

Journeyman and now Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak has been with the Spanish side since 2014 and has played in over 200 matches. Oblak was the La Liga Player of the Season in 2020/21, having won the La Liga title and kept 18 clean sheets in 38 matches, with an 80% save rate for the season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Right Back – €75 million

Fast paced and capable 22-year-old right back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a rock for Liverpool and now England. Alexander-Arnold at his young age has played over 100 games for Liverpool, winning 4 titles.

Matthijs de Ligt – Defender – €75 million

Matthijs de Ligt is only 22 but already is a veteran of the game, having played for Ajax and now at Juventus. de Ligt has won 5 titles in his career and is the subject of various transfer rumors.

Marquinhos – Defender – €75 million

PSG’s rock in defense, Brazilian Marquinhos has been with the club since 2013 and has over 200 appearances for the French Super Club. A leader and the balance of his club’s capable attack, Marquinhos is as slick as they come.

Alphonso Davies – Left Back – €70 million

When Alphonso Davies was moved to left back upon his arrival at Bayern Munich it raised many eyebrows, but the people at Bayern knew what they were doing. Davies has transformed into the best left back in the world. Speed, power, crossing, dribbling, the Canadian player is the best export from Concacaf at the moment.

Joshua Kimmich – Midfielder – €90 million

Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich is the balance of defense in an offensive midfield, known as a Swiss army knife for his versatility, Kimmich can win the ball in the middle like no other in the world. Kimmich has already won 17 titles since joining Bayern.

Frenkie de Jong – Midfielder – €90 million

Frenkie de Jong can do it all, he can play defense, go at it in attack, and he loves to have the ball at his feet. A workhorse for both Barcelona and the Netherlands,de Jong will be one of the pillars Barcelona will rely on in a world post Messi.

Kevin De Bruyne – Midfielder – €100 million

One of the world’s best midfielders, Kevin De Bruyne is elegant, has perfect vision, and can finish. The Belgium and Manchester City player is a leader for both club and country and is one of the most expensive players on the market.

Jadon Sancho – Attacker – €100 million

Jadon Sancho has recently made a huge money move to Manchester United, a lot will be expected from the 21-year-old English international. Sancho came on to the scene at Borussia Dortmund and is known for his speed, creativity and taking on opponents 1 v 1.

Neymar – Attacker – €100 million

€100 million for Neymar does not sound right. Neymar has been nothing short of brilliant in his career, he may be eclipsed by other names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, or Erling Haaland, but make no mistake Neymar is one of the best in the world. Neymar has won championships and scored some spectacular goals for every team he has played for and Brazil as well.

Kylian Mbappé – Striker – €160 million

Kylian Mbappé is simply electric, one the world’s most exciting young players the 22-year-old French World Cup winner is an excellent dribbler, finisher, has great speed, and tears up opponents 1 v 1. Along with Erling Haaland, they are the two biggest soccer talents in a post Messi and Ronaldo world.