Manchester United and Atletico Madrid Honor Koke’s Mother Ahead of Champions League Match
Tributes Paid to Koke’s Late Mother Before Champions League Clash
Manchester United and Atletico Madrid showed their respects following the passing of Ana Merodio Borja, mother of Atletico captain Koke, on Tuesday morning. A minute of silence was observed at the Metropolitano Stadium before the Champions League match between the two clubs, with players wearing black armbands in her memory.
Koke Absent as Atletico Wins
In light of the tragedy, Koke did not participate in the match, which saw Atletico Madrid claim a 2-0 victory over Michael Carrick's Manchester United side.
European Football Unites in Mourning
The death of Ana Merodio Borja affected both senior and youth teams at Atletico. Her son Borja Resurreccion, who serves as assistant coach for Atletico's Juvenil A team, was also honored. The minute’s silence took place before the UEFA Youth League fixture as well, where Atletico won 3-0. The stadium’s red and white flag flew at half-mast as a sign of respect.
Manchester United encouraged their fans to join the tribute alongside Atletico supporters.
Clubs Release Statements of Condolence
Before kickoff, Manchester United shared a message of sympathy on social media: "Manchester United is saddened by the passing of Ana Merodio Borja, beloved mother of Atletico de Madrid captain Koke and U19s assistant coach Borja Resurreccion. 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."
Atletico Madrid confirmed UEFA approval for the tributes, stating: "Tonight, before the start of our Champions League match against Manchester United, a minute’s silence will be observed in memory of Ana Merodio Borja, mother of our captain, Koke, who passed away this morning in Madrid. Our club requested permission from UEFA to observe a minute’s silence during both the first team match and the UEFA Youth League game, with players wearing black armbands."
The club added that the flag at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano would fly at half-mast and expressed deep condolences to Koke, Borja Resurreccion, and their families.
Challenging Night for Manchester United
On the field, Manchester United struggled. They finished the match with ten men after Leny Yoro received a red card. Pablo Barrios scored within the first minute to give Atletico an early lead, followed by a second goal from Ademola Lookman in the second half. The 2-0 loss extended United’s winless streak to five games across all competitions, highlighting ongoing difficulties this season.
Pressure Builds on Carrick
This defeat adds pressure on Michael Carrick as United faces their worst Premier League start in four decades, gathering only six points from six matches. Despite earlier European success against Sabah and a preseason win over Atletico, the current slump challenges both manager and squad moving forward.
Upcoming Fixtures
- 17 Oct 2026, LaLiga: Atletico Madrid vs. Leeds United, 15:00
- 18 Oct 2026, Premier League: Manchester United vs. TBD, 16:00
