Joao Felix tests positive for coronavirus

Joao Felix has tested positive for COVID-19, adding to Diego Simeone’s problems ahead of Atletico Madrid’s meeting with Celta Vigo.

Portugal international Joao Felix is self-isolating at home, as team-mates Mario Hermoso and Yannick Carrasco have been doing since Friday.

A brief Atletico statement read: “Joao Felix has tested positive for COVID-19. The striker is isolating at home, in compliance with the health authorities’ guidelines and LaLiga protocols.”

Simeone’s men have a 10-point advantage at the top of LaLiga and welcome Celta to the Wanda Metropolitano on Monday. They then travel to Granada the following Saturday.

Hermoso and Carrasco are unlikely to return for the meeting with Celta, while Kieran Trippier will be absent due to suspension.

Joao Felix marked his return to the starting line-up against Valencia on January 24 by scoring his first goal in almost two months and setting up another, leading Atletico from a goal down to a 3-1 victory.

3 – João Félix has both scored and assisted in three different matches this season in all competitions, more than any other @atletienglish player in 2020/21. Stellar. pic.twitter.com/6K9T8VPCvZ

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 24, 2021

The 21-year-old has been left out of the first XI eight times in LaLiga this season and Atletico have won all those matches.

However, when Joao Felix starts they average two more shots (12.1 to 10.0) and their goals-per-game ratio improves from 1.9 to 2.3.