<p>This week, the <strong>UEFA Champions League</strong> quarterfinals get underway, and one of the most important matches will be Wednesday’s meeting between <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a> </strong>and <strong>Atletico Madrid</strong>.<strong> Jan Oblak</strong> will be absent for that game.</p>



<p>On Tuesday, <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/atletico-madrid/">Atletico Madrid</a></strong> announced their 22-man squad for the trip to Camp Nou via social media, highlighting the absence of the Slovenian goalkeeper, who will miss the match due to physical issues.</p>



<p><strong>Oblak</strong> has missed Atletico Madrid’s last four matches – as well as the <strong>FIFA </strong>break with <strong>Slovenia </strong>– due to a muscle injury suffered nearly a month ago. He was hurt on March 13 during training ahead of the game against <strong>Getafe</strong>, forcing him to sit out three <strong>La Liga</strong> matches and one <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/champions-league/">UEFA Champions League</a></strong> match.</p>



<p>Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona will mark the fifth consecutive match Atletico Madrid will have to play without their star goalkeeper. This has impacted the team’s results, as they have lost three of the previous four games (including defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga) and won just one.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Los convocados para Barcelona 🔴⚪ <a href="https://t.co/OX6MBu7EUI">pic.twitter.com/OX6MBu7EUI</a></p>— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) <a href="https://twitter.com/Atleti/status/2041528745920536838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Oblak’s replacement</h2>



<p>In Jan Oblak’s absence, the goalkeeping duties will fall to <strong>Juan Musso</strong>. The 31-year-old Argentine has appeared in 11 matches this season for Atletico Madrid across La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, recording seven wins and four losses. Backup goalkeepers <strong>Salvi Esquivel </strong>and <strong>Mario de Luis </strong>were also included in the squad.</p>


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<p>For Musso, this is a key opportunity, especially with the<strong> 2026 FIFA World Cup </strong>approaching in the next two months. The goalkeeper was part of<strong> Lionel Scaloni’</strong>s most recent squad during the March international break after over a year away and has a chance to be included in the final 26-man roster.</p>



<h2>Other Atletico Madrid injuries</h2>



<p>In Atletico Madrid’s &nbsp;squad for the Barcelona match, there are two additional notable absences besides Jan Oblak. Midfielders <strong>Pablo Barrios</strong> and <strong>Johnny Cardoso</strong> are both sidelined due to physical issues.</p>


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<p>With these absences, coach <strong>Diego Simeone</strong> will need to explore alternatives to shape his starting eleven. According to <em>Marca</em>, the main options to fill the gaps are <strong>Koke </strong>and <strong>Marcos Llorente, </strong>though players like <strong>Rodrigo Mendoza </strong>and <strong>Obed Vargas </strong>also have a chance to feature.</p>


Barcelona handed boost as Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper Oblak ruled out ahead of Champions League clash

Barcelona handed boost as Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper Oblak ruled out ahead of Champions League clash - World Soccer Talk

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<p>The 2023–24 season has seen a worrying decline in performance from Atletico Madrid’s renowned goalie Jan Oblak. Despite his stellar reputation, he has let in an alarming number of goals this term.</p>



<p>In 38 games played last season, he let in only 37 goals—almost one goal per game. However, with six games left this season, he has already surpassed last year’s total. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/atletico-madrid-tv-schedule/">Atletico</a> have conceded 38 goals so far.</p>



<p>Their dismal defensive record has done nothing to aid their cause in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-la-liga-on-us-tv-and-internet/">La Liga</a>‘s race for the last Champions League place. Their margin over Athletic Club for fourth in the league is a mere three points. Meanwhile, Atletico is an alarming seven points behind third-place Girona. </p>



<h2>Oblak struggling this season</h2>



<p>Compared to other seasons, Oblak’s performance indicators, including projected goals allowed and save %, show a bleak image. Even worse, in the rematch of the Champions League quarterfinals, the Madrid team fell to Borussia Dortmund 4-2. So, after winning the first leg 2-1, they exited the competition.</p>



<p>With that game added to his season total, the Slovenian goalie has let in 63 goals thus far. Only three goalkeepers in the history of the Colchoneros have let in <a href="https://twitter.com/atletiuniverse/status/1780522456077180948" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than 60 goals in a single season</a>.</p>



<p>Jose Francisco Molina let in 64 goals in the 1999-00 season, while David De Gea conceded 65 goals in the 2010-11 season. With six games remaining in the current season, they have a good chance of having Oblak create an anti-record for the club this century.</p>



<p>The team’s defensive flaws and inexperience in important positions compound his on-field problems, casting doubt on whether Atleti can win titles in the future. The 31-year-old has always recovered from various performance-related issues.</p>



<p>However, his recent slump could be cause for concern since it may determine how long he stays with the club.</p>



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<h2>De Gea to return to Atletico Madrid?</h2>



<p>Two major sales are reportedly in the works for Atletico Madrid this summer. Eduardo Inda, the chief pundit of Okdiario, made the claim <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjeOazd7Mp4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">when appearing on El Chiringuito</a>. Another possible outcome of the sales is the return of David de Gea, the goalkeeper from Manchester United.</p>



<p>“The first one that could go, because Atletico also needs to make money so as not to expand capital, is Alvaro Morata. They could take the opportunity to sell him after the Euro Cup and he could go to Italy or Saudi Arabia.</p>



<p>“Atletico had to expand €40 million ($43 million) in capital and this year it must be there. The economic problem is tremendous. Another one that could be put on the market to deposit money is Oblak. David de Gea or Kepa are spoken of as substitutes. </p>



<p>“We cannot forget that Oblak charges 8 million ($8.6m) net per season, which are about 15 or 16 net. If Oblak leaves they are talking about Kepa or David de Gea, but he’s had a long time without playing.”</p>



<p>Once the 2022-23 season came to a close, the Spanish goalkeeper left Old Trafford and is now a free agent. During the previous two transfer windows, De Gea turned down offers from several clubs, including many from the Saudi Pro League.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>


Atletico Madrid to sacrifice Oblak and replace him with De Gea

A surprising decline from one of the world's top goalkeepers, Jan Oblak, has led Atletico Madrid to call on an old star: David de Gea.

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Barcelona handed boost as Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper Oblak ruled out ahead of Champions League clash

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Atletico Madrid to sacrifice Oblak and replace him with De Gea