The captain of Atlético de Madrid, Koke, and his brother Borja Resurrección were involved in deep sadness after the death of their mother, Ana Merodio Borja, on October 13 in Madrid. The news shocked the club and its fans, causing a collective tribute during the match of the day, in which the player's family could not attend due to the need to be with their loved ones.
Atlético requested and obtained permission from UEFA for the team to observe a minute's silence and allow first team and UEFA Youth League players to wear black armbands as a sign of respect. The red and white flag of Riyadh Air Metropolitano was raised at half-mast in the stadium, while rival Manchester United also joined in the tribute, sending a message of condolences and offering fans to join the break before kick-off.
The match became a constant tribute to Koke and Borja's mother. Striker Pablo Barrios dedicated his goal to the memory of Ana Merodio, while coach Diego Simeone could not hide his tears. Goalkeeper Llorente showed the shirt with his teammate's number and the stands remembered the player and his family on several occasions. After the result, Atlético's protagonists expressed their support and affection for Koke and his brother, highlighting the importance of the victory in honor of their mother.
Pablo Barrios commented that, in addition to the victory, the day was very hard for Koke's family and that the team wanted to dedicate the victory to his memory. Jan Oblak, for his part, recalled how difficult the day had been for the team and how football had become a distraction from thinking about the loss. Forward Baena reflected on the captain's absence in the locker room and the need to feel his presence on the field, although in a symbolic way.
Simeone concluded that the game was a difficult moment but that the team was united in feeling and that Koke's family would have the necessary support to overcome the pain. With the victory, Atlético de Madrid sought to honor Koke's mother and brother, demonstrating the solidarity of the club and its rivals in a time of mourning.