Atlético Madrid escaped Stuttgart with a 1-1 Champions League draw after surviving a first-half storm, finding a response through Julián Álvarez, then playing the closing stages against 10 men without forcing a winner.
It was a hard-earned point at the MHPArena, 231 kilometres from Munich, where Stuttgart’s European campaign has carried more authority than their uneven domestic form. Sebastián Hoeness’s side set the tempo from the opening seconds and Atlético were repeatedly pushed back towards Jan Oblak’s goal.
Quick facts
- Stuttgart and Atlético Madrid drew 1-1 at the MHPArena.
- Jan Oblak made several early saves as Stuttgart dominated the opening half-hour.
- Jamie Leweling put Stuttgart ahead after a costly loss of possession by Marc Pubill.
- Julián Álvarez scored his first Atlético goal since 29 April, assisted by Ademola Lookman.
- Atlético’s Hjulmand was sent off for a challenge on Angelo Stiller.
- Atlético missed the chance to register a seventh win, but held on for a valuable point.
Oblak was required immediately. After Marcos Llorente lost the ball during Atlético’s build-up, Deniz Undav supplied El Khannouss, whose low effort was kept out by the Slovenian goalkeeper. Oblak then denied Stuttgart again, making a second save as the home side continued to swarm forward.
Stiller also tested him with a volley, while El Khannouss and Chris Führich constantly exchanged positions to unsettle Atlético’s shape. Stuttgart pressed high, won back possession quickly and made it difficult for Diego Simeone’s side to play out.
Atlético were without the injured Cuti Romero and looked vulnerable in central areas. Llorente struggled in possession, Giuliano Simeone could not establish a foothold, and the visitors did not manage their first attempt until around the half-hour mark, when Pubill headed wide from a corner.
The breakthrough arrived after another damaging error from Pubill. Trying to carry the ball out from the edge of his own area while surrounded by Stuttgart shirts, the defender was dispossessed. Führich and El Khannouss helped open the route, before Leweling cut inside and drove a left-footed shot beyond Oblak, with Hjulmand adding a deflection on its way in.
The Stuttgart bench is led by Sebastián Hoeness, grandson of Uli Hoeness, who scored twice against Atlético in the 1974 European Cup final replay. On this night, the younger Hoeness had his team in command before the interval.
Simeone changed the picture at half-time, replacing Jonathan David with Lookman. David had been asked to operate with his back to goal against physically imposing centre-backs and had struggled to combine with Álvarez.
Lookman’s arrival brought an immediate connection. Barrios and Grimaldo moved the ball into the penalty area, Lookman played a sharp pass into Álvarez, and the Argentine turned near the spot before sending a left-footed finish into the top corner past Seimen.
It was Álvarez’s first goal in Atlético colours since 29 April, and it came in the competition where he has repeatedly delivered on the biggest occasions. With David off, Álex Baena moved into a more central role and Atlético briefly looked the more composed side.
That shift did not last. Hjulmand was shown a straight red card after planting his boot on Stiller’s ankle, leaving Atlético to defend with 10 players. Simeone withdrew Baena for Cardoso, while Hoeness sent on season-leading scorer Ermedin Demirovic in place of Leweling.
Atlético later added Robin Le Normand and Obed, replacing Álvarez and Barrios, before Sørloth was introduced as the visitors tried to manage the final phase. Stuttgart still threatened: Chabot headed towards goal and Prömel struck with his left foot, but neither side found a decisive second goal.
For Atlético, it was not the seventh victory they had wanted. In the context of a night spent under sustained pressure, however, the draw ensured they left Germany with a point and their European week still intact.
