Simeone loses two attackers for Atlético's Champions League opener at Anfield

Atlético Madrid will be without two attacking options when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday in their Champions League league-phase opener, with Diego Simeone forced to reshuffle his forward line before a ball has been kicked in Europe this season.

Alexander Sørloth has not trained with the group since picking up a muscular contracture in the week before the season began, meaning the Norwegian striker has yet to feature in a single match this campaign. His status for Wednesday’s 21:00 kick-off was still being assessed ahead of Monday’s training session, though Mundo Deportivo describe his situation as complicated.

Arnau Ortiz’s absence is an entirely separate issue. The Catalan winger, who holds a first-team squad number at Atlético, will miss the trip to Anfield because of a suspension that has been sitting on UEFA’s books since August 2024 — a sanction with an unusual backstory.

The ban dates back to a Conference League qualifying tie Ortiz played for Polish club Śląsk Wrocław. In the second leg against St Gallen — who had won the first leg 2-0 in Switzerland — Śląsk Wrocław led 3-1 when Ortiz was introduced during extra time. Within minutes of coming on, he was sent off after collecting two yellow cards: one for simulation and a second for dissent. Two other Śląsk Wrocław players had already been dismissed by that point, and St Gallen completed the turnaround with a late goal to advance.

The suspension was never served during Ortiz’s time in Poland and has now followed him to the Atlético first team, ruling him out of one of European football’s most demanding away fixtures.

The double absence leaves Simeone with a thinned attacking unit for the visit to Anfield, where Atlético open their Champions League campaign against a Liverpool side managed by Arne Slot.