Cuti Romero has an adductor injury and is expected to miss two matches

Cuti Romero’s expected time out is now known: the defender sustained an adductor injury during the match against Espanyol and underwent medical tests on Sunday. The injury is low-grade. Marca estimates that he will be out for around ten days, while the estimates also point to an absence that should not extend much beyond a week.

The tests came after the win over Espanyol, with the starters and substitutes completing separate sessions. Romero was the main concern for Atlético de Madrid ahead of the trip to face Stuttgart in the third round of the Champions League. Johnny Cardoso, who had been unwell, stayed in the gym, while Koke Resurrección is out with a muscular injury.

The injury rules the defender out of the upcoming matches against Stuttgart in the Champions League and Deportivo de La Coruña in LaLiga. He will not travel with the squad to Stuttgart and will not be available for the home game against Deportivo at the Metropolitano. Atlético will therefore have to approach both fixtures without him, despite his importance to the defence. The discomfort he felt against Espanyol had caused concern, with Romero described as a player who had restored reliability to the back line.

If the recovery timeline is met, Romero could be ready for the 11th round, away to Levante. The aim is also for him to be fully fit before the matches against Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona, which are considered important in the Champions League and LaLiga. His availability for those games remains dependent on his recovery.

Before the trip to Stuttgart, Atlético had three points from their first two Champions League matches. The team had also just beaten Espanyol, recording a sixth consecutive victory, five of them in LaLiga. Romero’s return is therefore anticipated for the upcoming fixtures, but the timing will depend on how his injury progresses.