Depleted Bayern München Brave Atletico Madrid Fortress

Bayern München walk into the Metropolitano with an assistant on the touchline, an attack thinned by injury and a newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner one goal from Champions League history. Waiting for them is an Atletico Madrid side unbeaten in nine and, as reported, still unbeaten at home against Bayern in this competition.

Since Thursday, the pre-match market has swung sharply towards Diego Simeone's side and away from the visitors. Bayern's week explains why.

Kompany's illness hands Danks the Bayern touchline

Vincent Kompany will not be in Madrid. According to Goal and Bayern's official website, the head coach collapsed at the club's training ground with viral meningeal irritation and was taken to hospital. He is now recuperating at home and is expected to miss several weeks. That leaves assistant Aaron Danks to direct the side.

The squad news is no kinder. Serge Gnabry suffered a muscular injury in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund, and Ismael Saibari needed surgery after the same game, Goal and Sport Bild reported. They join Jamal Musiala, Luis Díaz and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye on the sidelines.

Manuel Neuer, troubled by a foot problem, and Michael Olise are back in training but remain doubts ahead of late fitness assessments. Olise has 12 goals in 13 appearances this season, though earlier in this campaign he was sent off in the 3-3 draw at Viking.

On paper, Bayern remain formidable. They are unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions and have scored in each of their last 10, with 38 goals in that run. But the treatment room, the touchline and the market all point to a club stretched thin.

Kane chases Ronaldo's record against Simeone

Harry Kane is one goal from equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's all-time record of scoring in 11 consecutive European Cup and Champions League matches. He arrives straight from collecting the Ballon d'Or, and this is the first time in his professional career he faces a Simeone side.

His season reads 10 goals in 13 appearances, with four goals across three of his last five outings. With so much of Bayern's attacking cast missing, the job of unpicking an Atletico defence falls more heavily on him than usual.

Atletico Madrid chase a top-eight foothold

The prize is direct passage to the round of 16. Only the top eight of the 36-team league phase avoid the two-legged playoff round. Before this round, Atletico were 16th on four points from three games, with Bayern 14th on five. Atletico need a home win to keep pace with the qualification leaders.

Their recent form offers encouragement. Atletico are unbeaten in nine in all competitions and have scored in each of their last 10, totalling 19 goals. Simeone has just drawn level with Luis Aragonés' club record of 344 La Liga victories, getting there in 192 fewer games. Jan Oblak reaches 553 appearances for the club, matching Adelardo Rodríguez's all-time mark.

Morten Hjulmand is suspended after his red card against Stuttgart, and Koke is a doubt despite returning to group training. Álex Baena has five goals in 14 appearances. Álex Grimaldo has four in 13 this season and two in 11 games against Bayern since 2018. He knows them well from facing them domestically with Bayer Leverkusen.

Metropolitano history meets a final on home soil

Recent meetings lean Bayern's way. Across the last four, Atletico won one, drew one and lost two, including a 4-0 defeat in Munich in October 2020. The return in Madrid that December finished 1-1, and the September 2016 visit ended in a 1-0 Atletico win.

Both sides have had a man sent off in their last six matches, and Francois Letexier referees. The stage carries extra weight too, with the 2026-27 final to be staged at the Metropolitano itself.

Kane arrives needing one goal to stand alongside Ronaldo. Atletico arrive defending a home record against Bayern in the stadium that will host this season's final. Both runs are on the line in the same 90 minutes.