Atletico Madrid have had a tough start to the new season, as they have yet to register their first victory in La Liga. Being without Alex Baena for the next few weeks won’t help their effort to claim that elusive win, and now their task could be about to get harder still.

The absence of Baena has meant that Thiago Almada, who joined in the summer from Lyon, would be looked to as his “replacement”, with the pair both seen as attacking midfielders. The Argentina international has made a promising start to life at the RiyadhAir Metropolitano, but he has now been struck down.

As reported by Marca, Almada is suffering with physical problems, and these have meant that he has dropped out of Argentina’s squad for their final 2026 World Cup qualifier. The 24-year-old played 81 minutes against Venezuela last week, as it’s likely that his issues stemmed from featuring in that match.

Almada will be assessed upon return to Madrid

In the coming days, Almada will make his return to the Spanish capital, at which point Atleti’s medical staff will assess his situation. They must determine the extent of the midfielder’s muscle overload, and whether it means that he will not be able to face Villarreal this weekend.

It will be a bitter blow for Atleti head coach Diego Simeone if he is without Almada for the match against Villarreal, which is a crucial match-up at this early stage of the new season. If he is deemed unavailable, decisions will need to be made about the shape that Los Colchoneros utilise.

It could also mean that Nicolas Gonzalez, who arrived from Juventus on the final day of the summer transfer window, could be set for a first Atleti start, although there are also chances for Antoine Griezmann to be in from the off.