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Diego Costa Injury: Updates on Atletico Madrid Star's Leg and Return

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistApril 13, 2014

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Updates from Wednesday, April 16

Diego Costa returned to training with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, confirming that he should face no problems ahead of next week's Champions League semi-final with Chelsea.

Costa suffered a nasty gash to the leg last weekend, but HeathGCF of Inside Spanish Football reports:

After treatment for the injury, wearing a protective bandage, Diego Costa returned to full training with complete normality, alongside the rest of his team-mates, as they prepare to host Elche at the Vicente Calderón on Friday night, as Atlético Madrid seek to keep their hold on pole-position in La Liga.

Updates from Monday, April 14

Guillem Balague of Sky Sports reports Diego Costa was withheld from participating in training today:

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Everything has been coming up roses for Atletico Madrid of late. They currently sit atop La Liga's table and advanced to the Champions League semifinals this past week, with Chelsea up next in that competition.  

But the good times may soon be tempered by a sour note, as Diego Costa left Sunday's game against Getafe due to injury.

From ESPN FC:

Added AS English:

Football Espana passed along the latest news on Costa's health:

Dani Hidalgo of AS had more on Costa:

If Costa is forced to miss any time for Atletico, it could be a huge blow for the team in both their domestic and European campaigns, depending on how long he is injured. He's been brilliant this season, as WhoScored tweeted:

His 7.54 average match rating at WhoScored is tied with Neymar for sixth-best in all of La Liga, bested only by Lionel Messi (8.47), Cristiano Ronaldo (8.24), Gareth Bale (7.76), Ivan Rakitic (7.69) and Gabi (7.62).

In other words, you can bet there are a lot of very nervous Atletico Madrid fans at the moment. The club's fate this season could well rest on Costa's diagnosis.