VfB Stuttgart - Atletico Madrid

Deniz Undav remains the focal point for VfB Stuttgart as they look to recover from a narrow league defeat at Hamburger SV. The forward is expected to lead the line at MHPArena on 20 October 2026, supported by the creative instincts of Chris Fuehrich and Bilal El Khannouss. Stuttgart have shown their European pedigree recently with a commanding 3-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava, though the absence of Maximilian Mittelstaedt forces a defensive reshuffle. The home side must now find a way to break down a disciplined visiting unit while maintaining the tactical balance that has defined their recent domestic and continental outings.

Atletico Madrid arrive in high spirits following a clinical 1-0 win against Espanyol. With Julian Alvarez spearheading the attack, the visitors have demonstrated remarkable consistency, including a notable 2-0 Champions League success over Manchester United. Despite missing the influential Cristian Romero and Johnny Cardoso, the expected XI remains robust, anchored by the experience of Jan Oblak and the versatility of Marcos Llorente. This matchday 3 encounter pits Stuttgart’s ambition against an Atletico side that has been difficult to contain, setting the stage for a compelling tactical battle in this Champions League clash.