Madrid has emptied into the international calendar, with Atlético de Madrid watching 16 players scatter across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa before the club gathers again for the journey towards Alavés in the week beginning 5 October.
Only three Atlético internationals have played so far, leaving 13 still waiting for their first appearance of the break. Seven of those could be involved over the coming hours, turning a quiet weekend in the Spanish capital into a long-distance watch from Oslo to Wembley and across the Atlantic.
Morten Hjulmand was already in action for Denmark, who lost 3-2 in Norway. Denmark recovered from a two-goal deficit to level the match, only for Erling Haaland to decide it with Norway’s third. Hjulmand completed 88 minutes, attempting 87 passes and finding a teammate with 82 of them. He also produced two key passes and had an effort on target.
There was disappointment, meanwhile, for Spain’s Under-21 side in Finland. Atlético’s third goalkeeper Esquivel played the full match, while Rodrigo Mendoza entered for the second half, but Spain were beaten 2-1 in a result that denied them the chance to clinch qualification for the European Championship. Esquivel, the Malaga-born goalkeeper, conceded twice but made two further saves. Mendoza completed 21 of 24 passes and sent a shot from outside the area wide.
From Ljubljana to Wembley
The next group of Atlético players begins on Saturday with Jan Oblak. Slovenia open their Nations League campaign against Scotland at 15:00, giving the goalkeeper another prominent stage after the early-season club programme.
Four Atlético players are scheduled for the following slot. England’s Wembley meeting with Spain will carry the symbolic sight of the European champions wearing their second star for the first time in the opening Nations League round. Alex Baena, Alejandro Grimaldo and Marc Pubill are all in the Spain squad, although it remains uncertain whether each will be used.
At the same time, David Hancko’s Slovakia are due to welcome Moldova. The international weekend then crosses into Sunday morning: Jonathan David could feature for Canada in a friendly against Chile at 01:00, followed two hours later by Obed Vargas and Mexico’s friendly with Colombia.
Several more Atlético representatives remain to play during the window:
- Julián Álvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Juan Musso and Cristian Romero with Argentina
- Kang-in Lee with South Korea
- Ademola Lookman with Nigeria
For Atlético and Diego Simeone, the break will offer a broad measure of condition and confidence rather than rest. The returning players will not rejoin the club group until the first week of October, when attention turns back to the domestic schedule and the meeting with Alavés.
