Stuttgart controlled much of the first half at the MHPArena on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, finishing with 54% possession to Atlético's 46%. Jamie Leweling broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, striking with his left foot to the near post after Stuttgart recovered the ball in its build-up. El Confidencial described an Atlético first half in which the visitors chased shadows, unable to keep the ball or find solutions against a high German press. The visitors' best early chance came from a Marc Pubill header off a set piece, which went over the bar, and Diego Simeone was reported to have lamented the miss. Jan Oblak was credited with keeping the score at 1-0 at half-time.
Simeone changed Atlético's attack at half-time, bringing on Ademola Lookman for Jonathan David in the 46th minute, after the pairing of David and Julián Álvarez had produced little. Lookman's run down the flank led to a pass that Álvarez finished first time, to the far post, with his less natural foot. The goal came in the 47th minute and levelled the match at 1-1. Álvarez's celebration was rapid, with teammates quickly joining him, and El Confidencial said the form of the Argentine forward would weigh heavily on Atlético's prospects.
Morten Hjulmand was sent off in the 64th minute, leaving Atlético with ten players for about half an hour, according to El Confidencial. Referee Serdar Gozubuyuk had earlier booked Maximilian Mittelstaedt for Stuttgart in the 17th minute. Diego Simeone was shown a yellow card from the bench in the 85th minute. Stuttgart made several late changes, including Ermedin Demirovic in the 72nd minute and Leo Sauer and Dzenan Pejcinovic in the 87th, while Atlético brought on Alexander Soerloth, Robin Le Normand and Johnny Cardoso.
Dennis Seimen started in goal for Stuttgart, while Jan Oblak started for Atlético. Gozubuyuk was assisted on the touchlines by Patrick Inia and Rogier Honig, and Dennis Higler and Stuart Attwell worked the VAR, which the match report lists as having no incidents.
Stuttgart took 18 shots to Atlético's 10, with nine of its attempts off target against three for the visitors. The home side also recorded 72 dangerous attacks to Atlético's 28 and 26 crosses to 10. Atlético's stronger spell came after the break, when the equaliser and the ten-man defence kept the score level, but the match statistics show Stuttgart was the more threatening side throughout.
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Julián Álvarez equalised in the 47th minute after Jamie Leweling's 36th-minute opener, and Atlético held on for a point despite Morten Hjulmand's red card in the 64th minute.
AI text based on reports by europa press and El Confidencial. Published .