Atletico Madrid honour Koke's mother with black armbands and silence before Man Utd clash

Atletico Madrid captain Jorge ‘Koke’ Resurrección will play no part in Tuesday’s Champions League match against Manchester United at the Metropolitano Stadium after the sudden passing of his mother, Ana Merodio Borja, in Madrid in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The Spanish club confirmed the news ahead of kickoff, though did not publicly disclose the cause of death. UEFA swiftly authorised a pre-match minute of silence and permitted Atletico players to wear black armbands throughout the match as a mark of respect.

The tributes extended beyond the senior fixture. A moment of silence was also observed before Atletico’s 3-0 UEFA Youth League victory over United earlier in the day — a match in which Koke’s brother, Borja Resurrección, serves as an assistant coach for the club’s under-19 side.

Atletico Madrid also lowered the main club flag outside the Metropolitano to half-staff, a gesture that underlines the deep ties between the club and its long-serving midfielder. Management, coaching staff, and teammates offered their condolences and fully supported Koke’s decision to remain with his family rather than take part in the match.

The absence of their captain and primary midfield orchestrator forces head coach Diego Simeone to reshuffle his lineup. Morten Hjulmand is expected to step into the starting eleven in Koke’s place for what is a significant European fixture for both clubs.