Photo: Wikimedia Commons (free licence), cropped and styled by SportNestra — author and licence
Bereavement will keep an Atlético de Madrid figure away from tonight’s Champions League match against Manchester United. The Madrid club decided to leave its star out of the game after announcing the death of Ana Merodio Borja, mother of first-team captain Koke and Borja Resurrección, an assistant coach with the under-19 team.
Atlético expressed its support for its captain during this difficult time. Grief has also spread across the club. A minute’s silence is to be held before kick-off in tribute to Koke’s mother.
Koke will not take part in the match at the Wanda Metropolitano, an absence reported in the wake of the tragedy. The 34-year-old, regarded as an Atlético icon, has the support of his teammates, the coaching staff and the fans.
Beyond the sporting stakes of this European fixture, emotion is expected to be felt in the Atlético stadium’s stands.
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