Atletico Madrid: Simeone reshuffles the XI for Stuttgart clash

Atletico Madrid travel to face VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League looking for their first away win of the campaign. Diego Pablo Simeone has to make changes after confirmed injuries to Koke and Cuti Romero.

Changes driven by injuries

Johnny Cardoso is set to return, one of the main updates in Simeone’s plan. The back line is expected to be Marc Pubill, David Hancko, Marcos Llorente and Alejandro Grimaldo, with Barrios alongside Cardoso in midfield.

Simeone summed up his squad thoughts by saying: “¿La mejor plantilla? Cuando acabe la temporada veremos qué plantilla tuvimos”. Up front, the attack should lean on Julián Álvarez, with Jonathan David or Kang-in Lee as possible partners.

Stuttgart’s expected setup

Stuttgart’s usual shape is a four-man defence with attacking full-backs, Josha Vagnoman on the right and Ramon Hendriks on the left. Maximilian Mittelstädt is ruled out through injury, and the absence joins Tiago Tomás as a major problem for Sebastian Hoeness’s side. Ermedin Demirovic and Deniz Undav are the main references in the final third.