Atletico Madrid face nervous expectation over the wellbeing of talisman Antoine Griezmann ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester United.

The two giants from their respective countries will lock horns over two legs to see which advances to the quarter-finals, but Atleti remain cautious in their use of the Frenchman.

As the start of the knockout stage of Europe’s elite competition looms on the horizon, there are growing fears of a recurring muscle problem.

Spanish outlet AS reported: “No one wants him [Griezmann] relapse again and have more problems, so his return could be for the next day of the championship.

“United are waiting in the Champions League on the 23rd, it’s a game marked in red on Atletico’s calendar, and this game marks the calendar not only for Griezmann but for the whole team.”

He picked up the problem in the derby against Real Madrid around mid-December but saw the problem resurface in the cup fight with Rayo Majadahonda a month ago.

United’s Premier League rivals Liverpool have already discovered the quality of the World Cup winner after firing a brace in their 3-2 loss to the Merseyside side, but that ended early for the 30-year-old, who was shown a red card for a high challenge on Roberto Firmino.

The latest concerns have been raised by the absence of the clinical finisher from their preparations for Sunday’s clash against Griezmann’s parent club Barcelona in what has been believed to be the keen Argentine chief’s latest act of caution in order to have no injury for that. month-long duel.

It is an away first leg match for Ralf Rangnick’s team before the Spaniards return to England a fortnight later.

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