Football

Manchester City Face Atlético in Seoul Friendly Ahead of Community Shield

Manchester City meet Atlético Madrid in Seoul on Sunday, their final pre-season fixture before the 16 August Community Shield clash with Arsenal.

·August 9, 2026 at 10:20 AM·2 min read

Manchester City Face Atlético in Seoul Friendly Ahead of Community Shield

Manchester City and Atlético Madrid will face off in Seoul on Sunday — the final pre-season friendly for both sides ahead of competitive action. The match precedes City’s Community Shield fixture against Arsenal on 16 August.

Key Absences for Both Sides

Erling Haaland remains with the Norway national team following their World Cup campaign and will not appear for City. Midfielder Rodri is unavailable after undergoing back surgery on 28 July. Rayan Cherki, Marc Guéhi, Elliot Anderson, and Nico O’Reilly are also absent due to World Cup commitments.

Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips have been omitted from City’s Asia tour entirely, with both players expected to depart the club imminently. Manager Enzo Maresca is set to rotate heavily, prioritising minutes for new signings and squad fringe players.

Julián Álvarez stays in Argentina after the World Cup final. Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, Álex Baena, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Alexander Sørloth are all missing for Atlético. Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, and Juan Musso are also unavailable for the same reason.

New Signings and Tactical Roles

Omar Marmoush may start up front after scoring off the bench in City’s previous friendly. Phil Foden and Savinho are expected to occupy advanced positions in Maresca’s setup. Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Matteo Kovacic, and Tijjani Reijnders are all in line for starting roles as City seeks to build match fitness and tactical cohesion.

Lee Kang-in and Morten Hjulmand — Atlético’s recent signings — could make their debuts in Seoul. Lee’s participation remains uncertain. Diego Simeone is likely to field a blended side featuring Jan Oblak, José María Giménez, Robin Le Normand, and Koke alongside newer arrivals.

Ademola Lookman is highlighted as an attacking threat for Atlético. If cleared, both Hjulmand and Lee Kang-in may start or feature significantly. The match serves as Simeone’s final opportunity to assess squad depth and integrate new players before La Liga begins.

Recent Form and Results

Under Enzo Maresca, Manchester City have won one of their last two pre-season matches. They drew 1–1 with Inter Milan in Hong Kong on 1 August — losing 3–1 on penalties — then secured a 3–1 win over the K-League All-Stars in Seoul on 5 August. Goals came from Omar Marmoush, Savinho, and Phil Foden: Maresca’s first official victory in charge.

Atlético Madrid’s pre-season has yielded mixed results. They lost 2–1 to Manchester United in Stockholm on 1 August, then rebounded with a 4–1 win over Getafe on 5 August. Their record in the last two friendlies stands at one win and one loss. Simeone has used these games to test new signings and integrate younger players ahead of the domestic season.