Atletico miss Cristian Romero: Stuttgart fire 18 shots in hard-fought Champions League draw

Atletico Madrid picked up a hard-earned point at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. Diego Simeone's side drew 1-1 and saw their run of six consecutive wins come to an end. The performance left mixed feelings: a first half to forget, a reaction after the break and a late red card that complicated matters. The absence of Cristian Romero, alongside Koke's, shaped the entire game plan.

• Atletico could not secure a seventh straight victory of the season and drew 1-1 at Stuttgart.
• Julian Alvarez scored his first goal for the club in 174 days to make it 1-1.
• Morten Hjulmand was sent off for a tough challenge in midfield.
• Without Cristian Romero, Atletico conceded 18 shots, five of them on target.
• The Argentine defender will also miss the match against Deportivo and is targeting a return against Levante.

Atletico's first half in Stuttgart: German intensity and poor build-up play

The game started badly for the visitors. Stuttgart set a blistering pace and an aggressive press that unsettled Atletico from the opening minutes. Sebastian Hoeness' team dominated the first half with constant arrivals and an energy that the Atletico midfield could not match. Koke's absence was felt in the circulation of the ball, while missing Cristian Romero hurt both the build-up and the defensive strength.

Inaccurate passing cost Atletico dearly. Without a centre-back capable of breaking lines and without a midfielder dictating the tempo, the Madrid club ceded the initiative and defended very close to Jan Oblak's goal. That set up a punishing defensive night, reflected in one telling statistic: 18 shots for Stuttgart.

Julian Alvarez's goal turned the momentum and Atletico found their way back

After the break, Atletico improved. The team stepped up, closed the gaps between lines and found in Julian Alvarez the reference they had been missing. The Argentine scored his first goal as an Atletico player in 174 days to make it 1-1. His finish rewarded a stronger second-half effort in which the away side finally managed to impose a little more rhythm.

We had to react after half-time and we did it with personality. Julian scored a very important goal for the team.

Morten Hjulmand's red card stopped Atletico's best spell and forced late defending

Just when Atletico looked most comfortable, a single action changed the final stretch. Morten Hjulmand arrived late to a midfield duel and was shown a straight red card for a heavy challenge. From that moment, Diego Simeone's players had to sit back, manage their energy and protect the point. The message was clear: the team fought back to level, but had neither the players nor the strength to push for the win.

What Atletico lose without Cristian Romero: more defensive pressure and less control in possession

The numbers show that Cristian Romero's absence made Atletico far more vulnerable. Stuttgart fired 18 shots, five of them on target. Those figures comfortably exceed what the team allowed in recent games with the Argentine on the pitch. Against Espanyol, the opponents had ten attempts (two on target); against Manchester United it was nine (four); and in the derby against Real Madrid, eight (three).

Beyond the statistics, Atletico defended deeper and closer to Oblak. The centre-back is a defensive rock and also offers a reliable first pass that helps the team progress. Without him, Atletico looked disconnected, lost accuracy in possession and invited Stuttgart to grow into the game. The gap between the back line and midfield was a constant issue, especially during the first 45 minutes.

Atletico's upcoming schedule: Deportivo, Levante, Bayern Munich and Barcelona on the horizon

Diego Simeone will not have Cristian Romero available for the next league match. Atletico host Deportivo at the Metropolitano on Saturday at 21:00 without him, as the defender continues to recover from the muscle strain he picked up against Espanyol. The plan is for him to return on Saturday 31 October against Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia.

After that come two huge tests in the Spanish capital: Bayern Munich and Barcelona. Both are key matches in which Atletico need to recover their best defensive shape and in which Cristian Romero's presence looks essential. Stuttgart proved that without him, the team loses authority, toughness and composure on the ball.

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