Champions League: Koke out against Manchester United after the death of his mother

Second league-phase fixture tonight at the Metropolitano, where Atlético de Madrid host Manchester United. Without their captain. Koke, 34, lost his mother on Tuesday morning; the club announced his absence a few hours before a kickoff set for 9pm local time.

The club’s message does not hide the grief: “Tonight, before the start of the match against Manchester United, a minute of silence will be held in memory of doña Ana Merodio Borja, mother of our captain Koke and of Borja Resurrección, assistant coach of the Juvenil A, who passed away this morning in Madrid. Rest in peace.” The player is “deeply affected by this bereavement”, the club added, offering its support in an “especially painful” ordeal.

Koke is the most capped player in the history of the Colchoneros, more than 700 appearances in red and white. He had featured in every Atlético match this season, wearing the armband whenever he started, from the opening fixture against Liverpool to this European night. No replacement was named in the statement.

The visitors arrive with their own clouds: this morning we looked at how Michael Carrick faces up to Manchester United’s results crisis before this trip to Madrid, with the Conte rumour doing the rounds. Kickoff stays at 9pm; before the ball, the Metropolitano will observe a minute of silence, and Atlético will walk out without the man who has worn the armband all season.