Yannick Carrasco suffers collarbone injury, in doubt for Champions League semifinal

Atlético Madrid have taken another hit on the fitness front, as the club revealed that winger Yannick Carrasco has suffered a Grade I strain to his right clavicle.

The announcement came after a tense waiting period which began in the 72nd minute of Tuesday’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Villarreal. Carrasco had come on as a substitute in the 56th minute but collided with defender Antonio Rukavina moments later, which precipitated his exit.

The Belgian left the Vicente Calderón in an ambulance in order to have more exams done, and in the meantime rumor spread that the 23-year-old had broken his collarbone. Gabi gave an interview to El Larguero, where he revealed that Carrasco could not move his hand due to the hit he suffered, and it was feared that the explosive winger’s season was over

AS’ F.J. Díaz was the first to dispel that notion, reporting that Carrasco had a strain rather than a fracture. He was also the first to give a timetable for his return: May 10 at the Calderón.

So that is Carrasco certainly out of Saturday’s match at Las Palmas and almost certainly unavailable for the first leg of the Champions League semifinal at Real Madrid. The goal, as Díaz said, is for Carrasco to regain fitness ahead of the second leg at home. It seems Atleti have pinned its hope for full health on that second leg as Juanfran (quadriceps) and Šime Vrsaljko (anterior cruciate ligament) continue their recoveries.

Saturday’s XI on Gran Canaria is likely to be a mess, with no Carrasco, no Diego Godín (suspension), no fully fit or reliable partner for Antoine Griezmann and still no healthy right backs. Although Atleti will finish third with wins in all four remaining fixtures, this is not great news.

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