Ikhtisar Heart of Lions

Alexander Sorloth remains out of action for Atletico Madrid one month after suffering a muscle injury in pre-season. The Norwegian striker has missed all five official fixtures so far, leaving manager Diego Simeone forced to improvise with his frontline during a challenging start to the campaign.

Atletico Madrid suffered a defeat against Liverpool in their Champions League opener at Anfield, but Diego Simeone's side saw encouraging signs from Julian Alvarez. Former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares believes the Argentine striker's impressive display represents a major positive despite the loss.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has finally broken his silence on the club's unsuccessful and controversial pursuit of Julian Alvarez. The Blaugrana chief addressed the breakdown in negotiations with Atletico Madrid and dismissed allegations that the Catalan giants acted unprofessionally in their quest for the Argentine international.

Atletico Madrid captain Koke has demanded that Julian Alvarez be left alone following a turbulent summer transfer saga. The veteran midfielder expressed his frustration with the constant media scrutiny surrounding the Argentine forward in the wake of Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Liverpool.