Correa, Vrsaljko test positive for coronavirus

Atlético Madrid avoided a full-blown coronavirus crisis on Monday, when the club revealed all players and coaches returned negative results following a second round of testing. It also announced the two positive tests that had come back on Sunday.

Ángel Correa and Šime Vrsaljko are both home and isolated from their teammates. The latter’s case is considered “resolved,” as he generated antibodies rather than the virus itself. Correa displayed an active coronavirus case, though he is asymptomatic — something which sparked fears within the club that he could have unwittingly transmitted it to his teammates during training. These two positive tests run Atlético’s count of cases since May (whether active or showing antibodies) to 12.

Vrsaljko is injured and was not in the plans for Lisbon, but the ever-present Correa will not be present for Thursday night’s Champions League quarterfinal against RB Leipzig. Correa has long been a Diego Simeone favorite, and only Álvaro Morata created more goals in all competitions than the Argentine’s 15. Despite his poor form since June, Correa was slated to start on Thursday, so Simeone may insert Héctor Herrera in his countryman’s place.

Atlético announced that the first team would return to training Monday night before departing for Portugal on Tuesday. Los Rojiblancos will train at Benfica’s Seixal complex on Tuesday and Wednesday.