Atlético Madrid will be without key players Cristian Romero and Koke for their Champions League clash against VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday, October 20. Defender Romero is sidelined with an adductor strain, while midfielder Koke is recovering from a hamstring injury and is also grieving a personal loss. However, there is a boost for Diego Simeone’s squad with the return of Johnny Cardoso, who has recovered from gastroenteritis.
Key Absences for Atlético
Cristian Romero’s absence is a significant blow to Atlético Madrid’s defence. The Argentina international sustained an adductor strain during Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Espanyol, a match where he asked to be substituted. Tests confirmed the injury, ruling him out of the trip to Germany and next weekend’s home fixture against Deportivo A Coruña. Romero has become an important figure in Simeone’s side, notably scoring a late winner against Alavés recently, making his absence a considerable change to the team’s defensive options.
Club captain Koke also remains unavailable. He is recovering from a left hamstring strain that kept him out of the Espanyol match. Additionally, Koke is currently grieving the death of his mother, which occurred on Tuesday, October 13. A timetable for his return to action has not yet been set.
Cardoso Returns to Squad
In more positive news for Atlético, midfielder Johnny Cardoso is back in the squad after recovering from gastroenteritis. Cardoso missed the recent win against Espanyol due to the illness but trained on Sunday and has been included in the travelling party for the Champions League fixture.
Form and European Challenge
Atlético Madrid head into the match against Stuttgart in strong form, boasting a six-match winning streak across all competitions. Despite their domestic success, Simeone’s side faces a historical challenge on German soil. Atlético have a poor record in Germany, having lost eight of their 10 games there. Their most recent victory in the country came against Bayer Leverkusen in 2017.
VfB Stuttgart, meanwhile, have made an impressive start to their Champions League league-phase campaign, securing six points from their first two matches. However, the German side has historically struggled against Spanish opposition in European competitions, with a record of three draws and five losses in eight meetings, and no victories.