Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid preview, team news, h2h: Lookman targets Man United repeat

VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid renew the Germany vs Spain rivalry in the UEFA Champions League as matchday three fixtures roll in.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman already has a Champions League goal to his name this season, finding the net against Manchester United last week.

The Nigerian ace gets another chance to add to that tally when Atlético Madrid travel to the MHPArena to face VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday, October 20.

Lookman scored one of Atlético’s three Champions League goals this season as Diego Simeone’s side picked up their first points of the campaign with a two-nil win over Manchester United. And he is pushing for a recall after watching that victory largely from the bench.

Stuttgart arrive unbeaten in Europe this season, with six goals scored in two matches, and Sebastian Hoeneß will be without several defenders as his side try to spring a surprise against a bigger name on paper.

⚽ VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid
Competition	UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 3
Kickoff	Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — 21:00 CEST (20:00 Nigerian time)
Venue	MHPArena, Stuttgart
Where to Watch	SuperSport (DStv/GOtv)
The two clubs have met only once before, a pre-season friendly back in 2018, making this their first competitive fixture.

Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid: Hosts unbeaten in Europe as visitors chase away form

Stuttgart have won both of their opening two Champions League matches, beating Viking 3-1 at home before winning three-nil away at Slovan Bratislava, a return of six goals scored and just one conceded across the two games.

That record has them on six points, level with eight other clubs in the single thirty-six team table after two rounds.

Atlético Madrid, by contrast, have mixed results in the competition so far. Simeone’s side lost 2-1 away to Liverpool in their opening match before responding with a two-nil win over Manchester United at the Metropolitano, leaving them on three points from two games.

Three different Atlético players, Pablo Barrios, Marcos Llorente and Lookman, have each scored once in the competition this season, with no single player yet reaching two Champions League goals.

Stuttgart’s defence has been without several first-choice options for a number of weeks now, and that absentee list has only grown heading into this fixture. Hoeneß has nonetheless kept his side winning in Europe despite the disruption, a sign of squad depth that will be tested again here.

Atlético travel to Germany as outright favourites with bookmakers, priced at around two-to-one on average for the win against odds closer to three-to-one on Stuttgart. It’s a choice that reflects the gap in overall squad strength between the two sides even with the home side’s perfect European record so far this season.

VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid head-to-head

VfB Stuttgart and Atlético Madrid have met only once before, a pre-season friendly on August 5, 2018, which finished one-all.

That match carries no competitive weight and came with entirely different squads on both sides, so Tuesday represents the first competitive fixture between these two clubs.

Team news and predicted XI for VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid

Hoeneß continues to manage a lengthy absentee list at the back. Centre-backs Ameen Al-Dakhil, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Jaquez are all out through injury. Full-back Maximilian Mittelstädt and midfielder Nikolas Nartey are considered doubtful with heel and hamstring issues respectively.

Forward Tiago Tomás is also sidelined with a muscle problem, and right-back Assignon is out with a shoulder injury. Midfielder Angelo Stiller has been battling a knee issue but is expected to be available for selection.

Simeone’s injury list is shorter but significant. Captain Koke will miss out with a muscle injury in his left biceps femoris, an issue the club confirmed on October 16.

Midfielder Johnny Cardoso is also out through illness, while centre-back Cristian Romero will be sidelined for ten to twelve days with a right adductor strain, ruling him out of this match and Atlético’s following league fixture.

Striker Alexander Sørloth’s fitness remains uncertain after a muscle complaint that first affected him in late September.

Lookman is fit and available, though he did not start Atlético’s last Champions League outing and will be competing for a place among the front players.

VfB Stuttgart	Atlético Madrid
Al-Dakhil (knee): Out Zagadou (thigh): Out Jaquez (muscle): Out Tiago Tomás (muscle): Out Assignon (shoulder): Out Mittelstädt (heel): Doubtful Nartey (hamstring): Doubtful	Koke (muscle): Out Cardoso (illness): Out Romero (adductor): Out Sørloth (muscle): Doubtful

VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid star player comparison: Demirović vs Barrios

Ermedin Demirović Forward · VfB Stuttgart	Stat	Pablo Barrios Midfielder · Atlético Madrid
4	Champions League goals	1
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Nationality	Spain
Top scorer, this tie	Note	One of three on one goal

Demirović leads all scorers involved in this fixture with four Champions League goals already this season, while Barrios is one of three Atlético players, alongside Llorente and Lookman, who have found the net once in the competition.

The managers for VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid

Sebastian Hoeneß has been Stuttgart’s head coach since 2023 and has overseen the club’s return to regular European competition.

Diego Simeone has managed Atlético Madrid since December 2011, one of the longest single spells by any coach at a major European club in the modern game.

VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid tactical preview: Pace against midfield control

Hoeneß is likely to set Stuttgart up in a 4-2-3-1, with Führich and El Khannouss looking to get in behind a defence that has already conceded twice in two Champions League games this season.

Prömel and Stiller will need to shield a back four missing three regular centre-back options, which could leave space for Atlético’s forward players to exploit on the counter.

Simeone’s Atlético typically set up in a 4-4-2 built around control in midfield, with Hjulmand and Barrios screening the back four while Baena and Lee Kang-in look to create chances from wide areas for Álvarez and Simeone up front.

With Koke and Cardoso both unavailable, Atlético’s midfield balance is less settled than usual, which is an opening Stuttgart’s own central players could look to press.

Stuttgart’s free-scoring start to this season’s competition suggests Hoeneß will look to play on the front foot at home rather than sit back against the stronger name on the team sheet, while Atlético’s away defeat to Liverpool in the opening round is a reminder that Simeone’s side have not been foolproof on their travels in this competition so far.

The Naija Slip: VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid prediction

Score prediction: VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid

🔮 VfB Stuttgart 1 – 2 Atlético Madrid

Demirović’s scoring form should get Stuttgart on the board, but Atlético’s greater overall quality, reflected in their shorter odds, should be enough to see Simeone’s side home. Likely scorers: Ermedin Demirović, Julián Álvarez.