Atletico Madrid Captain Koke Withdraws from Match Following Mother's Death

In tribute, Atletico Madrid players will wear black armbands during the match, and a moment of silence is planned at the Metropolitano Stadium before kick-off. Koke, whose full name is Jorge Resurrección, is accompanied by his brother Borja at the club, who serves as the assistant coach of the under-19 team.

A moment of silence was also observed ahead of Atletico's UEFA Youth League match against United, which ended in a 3-0 victory for Atletico. Manchester United expressed their condolences via social media, stating, "Manchester United is saddened by the passing of Ana Merodio Borja, beloved mother of Atletico de Madrid captain Koke and U19s assistant coach Borja Resurrección. We offer our condolences to the family at this difficult time and invite supporters to join the two teams in a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off tonight."

As for Manchester United, they are hoping for a turnaround in their Champions League action after experiencing their worst start to a top flight season in 40 years, having garnered only six points from six Premier League matches under manager Michael Carrick. United did achieve a positive result in their first European match of the season, defeating Sabah 4-0 at Old Trafford.

United faced Atletico previously this season, winning 2-1 in pre-season. They will be missing Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo for this match due to injuries sustained against Tottenham. However, Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt has returned to action after nearly a year out. Carrick noted that the team still has depth despite player absences, expressing confidence in the younger players stepping up for the match.