Bayern are without their head coach, and Atlético should go for the win at home
Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase brings Bayern Munich to the Metropolitano. Kick-off is at 21:00 CET on Tuesday 3 November. It will be the first meeting between the two clubs since a 1-1 draw on 1 December 2020, almost six years ago.
After three games Atlético are 16th on 4 points, with Bayern 14th on 5. In both of the last two seasons the club in eighth place finished on 16 points, and getting there would take 12 points from the remaining five games.
Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany collapsed while overseeing training on 23 October and is now recovering at home. His assistant Aaron Danks will be in charge again for this game. Luis Díaz, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry are among the players missing. Even so, Bayern are unbeaten in all competitions this season, with nine wins and five draws from 14 games, and they are top of the Bundesliga. As you would expect, they defend well too. FotMob's numbers have them conceding an average of 0.9 xG per game across their 14 competitive matches, and in the Bundesliga alone no side has a lower xG against.
Barcelona are also coming up on Sunday 8 November, but this is a game Atlético should go out to win.
How do Atlético shut down Kane, who gets involved in the build-up as well?
Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or only last week. In the Champions League he has scored in each of Bayern's last 10 games that he has played in, and another goal here would make it 11 in a row. In the Bundesliga he has more assists (six) than goals (four), and his seven big chances created put him joint second in the league.
He is a superb striker who can finish and also help build attacks. The job for Atlético's centre-backs and midfield is to keep him out of the game when he drops deep into the build-up.
Michael Olise came off in the 84th minute against Dortmund on 31 October, but he has travelled with the squad. Danks said they would have to see whether he starts or comes off the bench. He has 12 goals and six assists in 13 games in all competitions this season. Several outlets have reported that he finished ninth in the 2026 Ballon d'Or, and he was named the Bundesliga's Player of the Season for 2025-26.
Personally, I think Olise is one of the best players around right now, and I doubt many people would disagree. If he plays, Atlético's defence look likely to have their hands full.
Bring Romero straight back for Bayern
Cristian Romero hurt his adductor against Espanyol on 17 October. It was reported as a minor injury, but he missed the next two games, and against Levante on 31 October he was on the bench without getting on. On 1 November he did not join the session on the pitch, and on the 2nd he worked in the gym rather than training with the group.
Marca wrote that he has been given medical clearance and that his return to the starting line-up looks likely to wait until Sunday's game against Barcelona. Other local outlets, though, have reported that his recovery has suffered a setback and that the injury is still bothering him. Going by the transcript of the pre-match press conference, Simeone did not mention Romero, and it is still unclear whether he can play.
I want to see him back to normal, and if he can play, I'd like him in the side from the Bayern game. He is solid defensively and good at playing the ball forward, which is what sets him apart from Marc Pubill and the others. Against a strong side, in a game where Atlético may struggle to keep the ball moving, that ability matters even more.
In all competitions this season, Romero's long-ball accuracy is 75%, while Pubill and Robin Le Normand are both at 56%. Talking about Bayern, Simeone said: "We will have to face difficult, tough moments and be able to play our way out of a press."
If he can't play, go with Pubill and Hancko at centre-back and Barrios and Koke in midfield
Morten Hjulmand is suspended after his red card against Stuttgart, and Johnny Cardoso is out injured. Koke, who has missed five games, trained with the group on 1 and 2 November. Simeone said: "Koke is coming back and he's keen, but the game could be a long one."
If Romero is unavailable, the centre-back pairing depends on where Marcos Llorente plays. One option is to move Llorente into midfield, with Pubill switching to right-back and Le Normand coming in at centre-back. Among the local predicted line-ups, Mundo Deportivo and others have gone with this set-up. However, Pablo Barrios and Llorente have yet to start a game together in midfield this season. The other option is to keep Pubill at centre-back, with Llorente at right-back and Barrios and one other player in midfield.
The second option is the one I'd go for, because I have doubts about Le Normand. His four La Liga starts have brought three wins and a draw, with three goals conceded, so the results have not been bad. But he gave away penalties against Villarreal and Alavés, and he was sent off against Villarreal as well.
In midfield, I'd like Barrios and Koke together. Marca and Mundo Deportivo expect Koke to come off the bench. Even so, if Atlético go with this set-up, Koke is the one I'd want next to Barrios.
In the Stuttgart preview I also wrote that I wanted Pubill and Dávid Hancko to cover for Romero. Across the three games from Stuttgart to Deportivo and Levante, the pair have won two and drawn one, conceding once.
Atlético have been taking their chances this season, and now they have to find a way to stop Bayern scoring
At home there should be spells when Atlético pin Bayern back in their own half. They could even end up creating more chances than Bayern, and those are the chances they need to take. This season Atlético have scored 26 goals in all competitions from a total xG of 20.9, so the finishing has been going well.
Bayern, though, have scored two or more in 13 of their 14 competitive games this season. Only four teams have managed two or more against them, and all four of those games ended in draws. Scoring alone will not be enough for Atlético; they also need to keep Kane and Olise quiet.
Going to this match? If general sale is gone, P1 Travel sells official ticket packages with guaranteed seats for high-demand fixtures — check availability for Atlético home matches. Expect prices above face value.
Booking through this link may earn Cholismo Lab a small commission, at no extra cost to you.