Pablo Barrios ran to the touchline inside the opening minute and held up six fingers, the number on Koke’s shirt. By then UEFA had authorised a minute’s silence at the Metropolitano, the Atlético flag was flying at half-mast and the players had come out wearing black armbands.

Koke’s mother died early on Tuesday in Madrid. The club did not give a cause of death. His brother Borja Resurrección, who works as an assistant coach for Atlético’s under-19 side, was also named in the public tributes.

Manchester United’s statement before kick-off

Manchester United released a message of condolence before the teams came out.

“Manchester United is saddened by the passing of Ana Merodio Borja, beloved mother of Atlético de Madrid captain Koke and U19s assistant coach Borja Resurrección,” the club said. “We offer our condolences to the family at this difficult time and invite supporters to join the two teams in a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off tonight.”

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The United players lined up alongside their Atlético counterparts for the silence before the game got under way.

A shirt lifted to the stands

Barrios’s goal arrived almost from the restart and set the tone. Diego Simeone’s side had the better of the first half and were already a goal up when Leny Yoro was sent off in the 74th minute for pulling down Jonathan David as the last defender.

Five minutes later, Ademola Lookman added the second. Marcos Llorente collected the ball and lifted Koke’s shirt towards the Atlético supporters behind the goal.

The final score was 2-0 to Atlético, with both goals dedicated to the absent captain and his family.

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