Young Star Stretchered Off in Distressing Scenes
A Women's Champions League fixture was overshadowed by alarming events on Wednesday night as Atletico Madrid defender Andrea Medina collapsed on the pitch with a serious head injury. The 21-year-old Spanish left-back required extensive emergency treatment before being transported to hospital, casting a pall over the match against Italian side Juventus.
Emergency Response on the Pitch
The disturbing incident occurred following a collision with Juventus forward Barbara Bonansea. Medina fell to the ground and remained there for a considerable length of time, prompting immediate intervention from the club's medical team. After receiving urgent care on the pitch, the player was carefully placed on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to a medical facility for further assessment.
English broadcaster Jacqui Oatley, who was commentating on the match for Disney+, conveyed the gravity of the situation in a social media post. She described the scene as 'horrendous' and expressed her concern for the young athlete, writing on X: 'We’ve just commentated on Atletico Madrid’s @UWCL game v Juventus for Disney+ and young Spanish left back Andrea Medina suddenly went down - she received urgent lengthy treatment before being carried off.'
Club Confirms Traumatic Brain Injury
Following the match, Atletico Madrid women's team issued an official statement providing an update on Medina's condition. The club confirmed that Andrea Medina was replaced after suffering a traumatic brain injury. They added that 'The footballer is doing well but has been transferred to a hospital center to undergo additional tests.'
Despite the concerning interruption, the match at the Centro Deportivo Alcala de Henares was played to its conclusion. Juventus secured a 2-1 victory, with goals from Emma Stolen Godo and Barbara Bonansea proving decisive. This result leaves Atletico Madrid tenth in their Champions League group with one win and two losses from three outings, while Juventus climbed to eighth position.
