It has been an eventful few days for the reigning champions of Spain.

Last Saturday, during the second half of their 0-0 draw with Espanyol, centre-back Miranda was sent off for a vicious elbow on Abraham. That result – coupled with Valencia’s 2-0 win over Deportivo – saw Atletico drop from third to fourth place in La Liga. They now trail league-leading Barcelona by nine points with eleven league matches to play.

Yesterday, Miranda learned his fate from the Spanish FA’s Competition Commission as the Brazilian defender was handed a two-match ban for his indiscretion against the Espanyol midfielder.

Also, over the past 48 hours, the club were dealt a triple injury blow as it was learned Mario Mandzukic, Raul Garcia and Miguel Angel Moya will all be sidelined after picking up injuries during Atletico’s grueling midweek Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen – where Diego Simeone’s side beat Leverkusen 1-0 in the second leg to level the Round of 16 tie at 1-1 on aggregate before progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition on penalties (3-2).

That victory has proved costly as Mario Mandzukic appeared to injury his ankle before halftime. He would remain on the pitch until the 83rd minute when he was substituted by Fernando Torres. The club has now confirmed the Croatian striker has been diagnosed with a Grade I sprain in his right ankle.

Meanwhile, Garcia came on in the 46th minute for Cani, but the club revealed the midfielder suffered a cracked elbow bone after Leverkusen’s Omer Toprak fell on top of him.

Finally, Moya was dramatically removed from the Champions League match and replaced by Jan Oblak in the 23rd minute after appearing to damage his hamstring.

Late yesterday it was confirmed the starting goalkeeper underwent an MRI which determined he suffered a myofascial muscle injury of the hamstring at a muscle-tendinous level (Grade II) of his left thigh.

It has not been confirmed how long the respective injuries will keep the three players on the sidelines. However, each is expected to miss Saturday’s match at home against Getafe.

Programming note: Atletico Madrid vs. Getafe will be shown LIVE on Saturday starting at 11:00am EST on beINSPORTS and DishWorld.