5 Talking Points: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona

#3 Injury strikes again for Vermaelen

A saviour on matchday 2 against Malaga with a sumptuous volley, it was going well for Thomas Vermaelen here in Madrid, until injuries reared it’s ugly head over the luckless Belgian right in the first half.

Having spent the entirety of last season on the treatment table, it comes as a real wretch for the player who was beginning to integrate with the squad. In his attempt to thwart an Atletico corner, Vermaelen, after the set-piece was taken, signalled to the bench for a change and straight-away hobbled down the tunnel, with his face clearly reeking annoyance. Understandably, though.

Reports later on suggested that the former Arsenal skipper has sustained a calf injury in his left leg and the extent of his absence is yet to be ascertained. Irrespective of the span, the injury comes at a time when Barcelona are already plagued with several issues at the back and now with a trip to Rome for the Champions League opener on the horizon, their defensive glitches have run deeper.

All that manager Enrique now left with with is Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu in that role, and any further such concerns would leave him with no back-up at all.