Atletico Madrid face struggling Manchester United in Champions League test

Atletico Madrid welcome Manchester United to the Metropolitano on Tuesday for the second matchday of the Champions League league phase, with Diego Simeone’s side chasing a fifth consecutive midweek victory and Michael Carrick’s visitors still searching for their first win in five matches.

The Rojiblancos have made a strong start to the season and beat 10-man Alaves 2-1 on Saturday. Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring before former Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero secured victory late on. Romero was also named player of the match when Spurs defeated United in the 2025 Europa League final.

That result matched Atletico’s 2-1 win in the Madrid derby on 20 September, when Grimaldo again scored first. However, Atletico have won only two of their past 15 matches against English opposition, drawing three and losing 10, including a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool on 9 September.

Their record on home soil against English clubs is considerably stronger. They have lost only two of 19 such games in Spain, recording nine wins and eight draws. Their most recent meeting ended in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in last season’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

Manchester United began this Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory over competition newcomers Sabah, but have not won any of their four matches since. Consecutive defeats by Manchester City and Brighton were followed by successive 1-1 draws, the second coming against 10-man Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Dominic Solanke’s 92nd-minute header earned Tottenham a deserved point and prompted further jeers from the home supporters. United have now gone four matches without a victory in all competitions.

Their record against Spanish clubs offers some encouragement: they have lost only once in their past 11 meetings, winning seven and drawing three. However, United have never beaten Atletico in four previous encounters. They lost twice, including a 2-1 aggregate defeat in the last-16 stage of the 2021-22 Champions League.

For Tuesday’s match, Atletico have a fully fit squad. Julian Alvarez, formerly of Manchester City, is expected to lead the attack alongside Lee Kang-in, who has impressed since joining from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Romero should partner David Hancko in central defence, with Grimaldo and Marc Pubill at full-back.

United remain short of defensive options. Matthijs de Ligt is still out with a back injury, while Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu suffered hamstring problems during the international break. Reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton is also absent with an abdominal injury.

Carrick could therefore select Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire centrally, with Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw either side of them and Senne Lammens in goal. Manuel Ugarte continues to recover from the cruciate ligament injury he suffered at the World Cup, but Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo are expected to be available in midfield.

Benjamin Sesko has a leg injury, meaning Matheus Cunha is likely to start up front, supported by Bryan Mbeumo and captain Bruno Fernandes.

Betting tips

– Both teams to score and more than 2.5 goals – 1.64 – Jonathan David to score – 2.52 – Bruno Fernandes or Bryan Mbeumo to score – 2.17

Expected line-ups

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Pubill, Romero, Hancko, Grimaldo; Simeone, Llorente, Cardoso, Baena; Lee, Alvarez.

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.

Atletico’s recent four-match winning run makes them the form side, while United’s four-game winless sequence leaves them with little momentum despite their opening-day Champions League success.