Can Stuttgart halt Atlético’s six-game winning streak? Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid prediction – 20.10.2026
VfB Stuttgart host Atlético Madrid at the MHPArena on Tuesday, October 20, in Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side have collected all six available points in Europe, while Diego Simeone’s Atlético travel to Germany on a run of six consecutive victories in all competitions.
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Stuttgart: perfect in Europe, inconsistent in the Bundesliga
Stuttgart’s Champions League campaign could hardly have started better. They opened with a 3-1 home victory over Viking before producing an even more convincing performance away to Slovan Bratislava, winning 3-0. Deniz Undav opened the scoring in Slovakia, while Ermedin Demirović completed the victory late on and took his tally to four Champions League goals this season.
The contrast with Stuttgart’s domestic campaign is striking. Hoeneß’s team have collected only six points from their opening six Bundesliga matches, and their latest outing ended in a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Hamburg.
The result did not tell the whole story. Stuttgart had more than 66% possession, attempted 24 shots and generated 2.67 xG, but failed to convert their pressure before conceding in the 88th minute. It was another example of a team capable of controlling long periods without always turning that dominance into goals.
There are also some personnel concerns. Maximilian Mittelstädt has missed the last two matches after suffering a laceration to his right heel. In Stuttgart’s latest European squad update, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Ameen Al-Dakhil, Nikolas Nartey and Justin Diehl were also unavailable.
Even so, Stuttgart possess plenty of attacking quality. Undav and Demirović provide a dangerous central presence, Jamie Leweling can stretch the game from wider positions, while Bilal El Khannouss and Angelo Stiller are capable of controlling possession and creating chances between the lines.
Atlético Madrid: six straight victories and growing confidence
Atlético appear to have found their best rhythm at exactly the right time. Their Champions League campaign began with a narrow 2-1 defeat away to Liverpool, but Simeone’s team responded impressively by beating Manchester United 2-0 in Madrid.
Pablo Barrios scored inside the opening minute in that match before Ademola Lookman sealed the victory late on. Atlético then maintained their momentum in LaLiga, defeating Espanyol 1-0 thanks to Álex Baena’s late winner.
That result extended Atlético’s winning streak to six matches in all competitions. They are also second in LaLiga with 22 points from nine rounds and have kept clean sheets in each of their last two games.
Simeone now has considerable attacking depth. Julián Álvarez remains the biggest individual threat, but Baena, Lookman, Kang-in Lee, Jonathan David, Alexander Sørloth and Giuliano Simeone give the coach several different combinations depending on the match scenario.
The main confirmed personnel concern is Koke. The experienced midfielder suffered an injury to the biceps femoris of his left thigh and missed the weekend victory over Espanyol.
Possible lineups
- Stuttgart: Seimen – Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Hendriks – Stiller, Karazor – Leweling, Undav, El Khannouss – Demirović.
- Atlético Madrid: Oblak – Llorente, Romero, Hancko, Grimaldo – Giuliano Simeone, Hjulmand, Barrios, Baena – Kang-in Lee, Julián Álvarez.
Match facts
- Stuttgart have won both of their Champions League matches this season, scoring six goals and conceding only one.
- Ermedin Demirović has already scored four goals in the competition.
- Stuttgart have collected only six points from their opening six Bundesliga games.
- Atlético Madrid have won six consecutive matches in all competitions.
- Atlético have kept clean sheets against Manchester United and Espanyol in their last two outings.
- This will be the first competitive meeting between Stuttgart and Atlético. Their only previous encounter was a 2018 friendly that finished 1-1.
Atlético’s experience and momentum can make the difference
Stuttgart’s European results deserve respect. Hoeneß’s team are aggressive at home, capable of pressing high and creating plenty of chances, while the performance in Hamburg showed that their attacking process remains productive even when the result goes against them.
However, Atlético currently look more balanced between the two penalty areas. Simeone’s team can change personnel in attack without losing much quality, Barrios and Baena are in excellent form, and the defensive unit has become increasingly reliable.
Stuttgart should have periods when they put Atlético under pressure, particularly with the support of the home crowd. But their inconsistency in the Bundesliga and current personnel issues could become more significant against an opponent that has won six straight matches and is increasingly comfortable controlling tight games.
Atlético have enough pace and individual quality to punish Stuttgart when the hosts leave space in transition. In what should be a competitive encounter, the visitors’ current momentum and greater tactical maturity give them the edge.
Prediction: Atlético Madrid to win.
