Atlético Madrid host Manchester United as team mourns captain Koke’s family loss

Atlético Madrid host Manchester United in the Champions League at 8 pm BST, with a minute’s silence planned after the death of captain Koke’s mother. Koke will miss the match; his brother Borja Resurrección serves as assistant coach for the club’s under‑19 side. Players will wear black armbands and the Metropolitano flag will fly at half‑mast. Diego Simeone praised Julian Alvarez, saying he has focused on him as a person and that they have reached a very good point with the striker, who starts after wanting to leave in the summer and makes his first home start since a game against Liverpool. Atlético line‑up includes Oblak, Llorente, Romero, Hancko, Grimaldo, Simeone, Barrios, Cardoso, Alex Baena, Alvarez and Lee, with several substitutes listed. Manchester United’s side features Lammens, Dalot, Martinez, Heaven, Yoro, Santos, Baleba, Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Mbeumo, with Marcus Rashford back in the starting eleven. Youri Tielemans is pushed forward, while Bruno Fernandes operates off the flanks. United have struggled in their last two Premier League games and have only 3,750 supporters in the stadium, with little to cheer this season. Michael Carrick, speaking on Amazon UK, noted United’s rich Champions League history, the fine margins that decide games and the need for control with and without the ball, stressing flexibility and collective defence. Atlético have won their last four La Liga games, including a derby victory, but lost their previous Champions League outing at Anfield.

Context

The Champions League group stage decides which clubs move to the knockout rounds, so each result heavily influences a team’s chance to advance. A minute’s silence and black armbands are traditional football signs of respect when a player’s close family member passes away.