Malaga arrives at Atletico debut with seven players sidelined

Malaga face their return to LaLiga in the worst possible circumstances: three days before traveling to the Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday (21.00), Funes' side has accumulated seven absentees across the pitch. According to Sport, in Sunday's session at La Rosaleda, Murillo, Fernando Calero, Carlos Dotor, Moussa and Adrian Niño —who picked up injury in the Fulham game— continued gym work, while Juanpe and Ochoa were doing partial training. Ochoa is also suspended for this fixture.

Time is running out

All signs point to none of these seven players being fit for the debut. Though Dotor and Niño's injuries are not long-term, they won't have recovered in time. The blow lands harder knowing it's the first match of the season in the top flight against an offensively potent Simeone side.

The squad will train Monday and Tuesday before traveling to Madrid. Without the expected reinforcements, Malaga will have to dig deep tactically and draw on the character of a newly promoted group.