Manchester United and Atletico Madrid Honor Koke’s Mother Before Champions League Match

Manchester United and Atletico Pay Tribute to Koke’s Late Mother

Before their Champions League match at the Metropolitano Stadium, both Manchester United and Atletico Madrid paid respects to Ana Merodio Borja, mother of Atletico captain Koke. She passed away early Tuesday morning in Madrid.

A minute of silence was observed before kickoff, and players from both sides wore black armbands as a mark of respect. Koke did not participate in the game, which ended in a 2-0 win for Atletico over Michael Carrick’s team.

Tributes Across All Levels at the Stadium

The loss affected the football community deeply on Tuesday, especially since Ana Merodio Borja was also mother to Juvenil A assistant coach Borja Resurreccion. The tragedy led to Koke withdrawing from the Champions League fixture against Manchester United.

Tributes extended beyond the senior teams. Both the UEFA Youth League match, where Atletico won 3-0, and the Champions League game began with a moment of silence. Black armbands were worn, and the red and white flag at the stadium flew at half-mast.

United encouraged their fans traveling to join in the silence alongside the home supporters to honor the Resurreccion family.

Official Statements from Clubs

Manchester United released a heartfelt message on social media before kickoff:

"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’s approval for the tributes and explained the club’s plans:

"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 both during the first team match and the UEFA Youth League game, as well as for the players to wear black armbands."

The club added:

"As a sign of respect for her memory, the red and white flag at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano is flying at half-mast. Atlético de Madrid expresses our deepest condolences to all his family and friends, especially to Koke, captain of the first team, and Borja Resurrección, assistant coach of the Juvenil A team. Rest in peace."

Tough Night for Manchester United

On the pitch, things went badly for Manchester United. Reduced to ten men after Leny Yoro received a red card, they lost 2-0 at the Metropolitano Stadium. Pablo Barrios scored within the first minute, and Ademola Lookman doubled the lead in the second half.

This defeat extended the Red Devils’ winless streak to five matches across all competitions, marking a difficult run in what has been a challenging season so far.

Rising Pressure on Carrick

The loss increases pressure on manager Michael Carrick. The team has had its worst start to a top-flight league campaign in 40 years, securing just six points from their first six Premier League games.

Though the Red Devils had beaten Sabah 4-0 in Europe and Atletico 2-1 in preseason, their current slump represents a major hurdle for the squad and coaching staff.

Upcoming Fixtures

• LaLiga: 17 Oct 2026, 15:00 - Atletico Madrid vs Leeds United
• Premier League: 18 Oct 2026, 16:00 - Manchester United vs (TBD)