Cunha, Llorente, Savić expected to return after international break

Following Saturday’s match against Barcelona, Atlético Madrid announced midfielder Marcos Llorente and defender Stefan Savić had sustained muscular injuries during the 2-0 win. But the good news is those two players, alongside previously-injured forward Matheus Cunha, are expected to recover fully during this international break.

Llorente, who was set to play in Spain’s Nations League semifinal against Italy, was withdrawn from the squad after the Barça game. Savić will miss Montenegro’s World Cup qualifiers against Gibraltar and Norway, and Cunha will be absent from Brazil’s three-game CONMEBOL qualifier slate (games against Venezuela, Colombia, and Uruguay).

According to Gol’s José Ignacio Fernández, Atlético anticipate all three players will be ready to go when Liverpool come to town on Oct. 19 (although Savić will be ineligible due to a continuing UEFA suspension).

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

LaLiga requested a postponement for Atlético’s Oct. 17 game at Granada due to the packed South American World Cup qualifying schedules — and given that prominent players such as José Giménez, Luis Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul would be unavailable for that game. The postponement was finalized on Tuesday, and it will give Cunha, Llorente, and Savić a bit more time to complete their recoveries.

Cunha has yet to start for Atleti, but he has been lively and dangerous when he’s come off the bench. Llorente has not scored or assist a goal this season, but he has started each game and is unmistakably a core player. The same goes for fourth captain Savić, who is continuing to add a ball-playing element to his game.