Torres doubtful for Atletico clash

October 16, 2008

Liverpool forward Fernando Torres is a major doubt for next weeks UEFA Champions League match with former club Atletico Madrid after he picked up an injury on international duty for Spain.

The striker strained a muscle in his thigh and was forced off just 16 minutes into the Euro 2008 winners 2-1 victory over Belgium on Wednesday.

Spanish team doctor Oscar Celada now admits Torres faces a race against time to face his former club.

“He has a strong pain behind his (right) thigh,” Celada told Spanish television after the game.

“It is difficult to say for the moment if it is a strain or a small (muscle) tear.

“If it is a strain he could be out around a week,” said Dr Celada - but a tear would mean waving goodbye to facing his old club.

The striker will not play in Liverpool’s Premiership match with Wigan on Saturday.

The injury could not have come at a worse time for Liverpool, with a crunch game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to follow next Sunday. Fellow striker Ryan Babel is also a doubt after suffering ankle damage in Holland’s 1-0 victory over Norway.

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