Atletico Madrid and Manchester United will face off in a heavyweight clash in the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16 this midweek.
The first leg fixtures of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 will culminate with two matches on Wednesday night. In one of the encounters, Spanish champions Atletico Madrid will lock horns with English giants Manchester United at the Wanda Metropolitano. Both teams are having disappointing campaigns which they will look to salvage by progressing in the continental competition.
Atletico Madrid were poor during the group stage as they managed to win just two of their six games, losing three. They just about managed to finish above FC Porto, pipping them to second place by two points but finishing nine points below group winners Liverpool. Diego Simeone’s side have been inconsistent in La Liga as well and head into Wednesday’s game having won just three of their last six games.
Manchester United, meanwhile, finished as the table-toppers in Group F, just a point clear of second-placed Villarreal. They largely rode on the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo to make it through to the knockout stages but have been going through an indifferent run of form under interim boss Ralf Rangnick. After failing to come out on top in three matches in a row, United go into Wednesday’s game on the back of two consecutive victories.
The last time these two sides faced each other was in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup second round, with Atletico Madrid coming out on top 4-1 in the two-legged affair. Ahead of their latest meeting on Wednesday night, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
❝We are all motivated for the game against Manchester United❞
— @JoaoFelix70 ?#UCL | @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/97ffcvJJQL
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 21, 2022
Atletico Madrid have been dealt a bitter blow ahead of this crucial clash as captain Koke has been ruled out with an injury. Apart from him, Daniel Wass and Matheus Cunha also miss out, while Yannick Carrasco will be unavailable due to suspension. Thomas Lemar is also likely to miss out after recovering from Covid-19 only recently.
Given the injury situation, manager Diego Simeone is likely to switch to a three-man defensive unit on Wednesday with Stefan Savic, Felipe and January signing Reinildo Mandava lining up as the centre-backs shielding Jan Oblak between the sticks.
With Wass and Carrasco unavailable, Sime Vrsaljko and Renan Lodi could occupy the wing-back slots. They will be tasked with providing the width going forward for the home team, while they will drop deep in defensive phases to make it a five-man backline for Atleti.
Hector Herrera will be responsible for holding the fort in the middle of the park, with support from Marcos Llorente, who will also look to drive up the pitch and add numbers in attack when the Spanish giants press forward. The third midfield slot will likely be occupied by Geoffrey Kondogbia, with Rodrigo De Paul expected to miss out.
Up top, Simeone is expected to go in with the pace and guile of Angel Correa and Joao Felix ahead of the experience of Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann. Correa and Felix have the quality and attributes to hurt a Manchester United backline that has shown signs of vulnerabilities.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Savic, Felipe, Reinildo; Vrsaljko, Llorente, Herrera, Kondogbia, Lodi; Correa, Felix
Manchester United
Manchester United will again be without experienced forward Edinson Cavani, who is struggling with a groin injury. Apart from him, third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton is the only other injury-enforced absentee for the Red Devils.
??????? ? MCR ➡️ MAD ? ??#MUFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/vkh3Cniah0
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 22, 2022
Ralf Rangnick is expected to continue with the 4-3-3 formation, with David de Gea starting in goal against his boyhood club and looking to secure a clean sheet. He will be protected by a backline comprising Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire as the centre-backs, with Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles slotting in as the full-backs.
Scott McTominay will again be the holding midfielder and look to prevent Joao Felix from getting into pockets of space in the attacking third and dictating proceedings. Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, is the chief creator for the visitors and is a certain starter in the centre of the park. Fred made a huge impact after coming on for Paul Pogba against Leeds United and could replace the Frenchman in the third midfield slot.
Jadon Sancho’s current form means that he is certain to hold on to his spot on the left flank, while Marcus Rashford could be in line to return on the right ahead of Anthony Elanga. Cristiano Ronaldo, who enjoys a healthy record against Atletico Madrid, should spearhead the attack at the Wanda Metropolitano, where he is likely to get a hostile reception.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Telles; Fernandes, McTominay, Fred; Rashford, Ronaldo, Sancho
Key Stats
- The last time Atletico Madrid and Manchester United clashed was in the second round of the 1991/92 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. The two-legged affair ended 4-1 in Atleti’s favour.
- After losing their first group game in the Champions League this season, Manchester United have gone unbeaten in their last five contests in the competition (W3 D2).
- Atletico Madrid have lost each of their previous four UEFA Champions League matches against English teams.
- Manchester United have only won one of their last seven away trips to Spain in the knockout stages of the Champions League (D4 L2).
- Ralf Rangnick has only taken charge of two separate Champions League knockout ties during his managerial career, both with Schalke during the 2010/11 season, when he led them to a quarter-final win over Inter Milan before losing to Manchester United in the semi-final.
Player to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has 30 goal involvements against Atletico Madrid in 35 matches ?
25 goals ( including four hat-tricks) ⚽️
5 assists ? #UCL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/PlLk06RFbg— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) February 22, 2022
After another quiet outing against Leeds United, the spotlight will once again be on Cristiano Ronaldo and how he fares against one of his favourite opponents. The Portuguese maverick has scored 25 goals in 35 matches against Atletico Madrid – only against Sevilla has he found the back of the net on more occasions in his career.
Four of his 48 career hat-tricks in club football have come against the Rojiblancos, with two of those being in the Champions League. While his form has dwindled somewhat, Ronaldo was in sublime touch in the group stage this season, scoring six goals in five matches – 55% of Manchester United’s total tally (11) in the first phase of the competition.
He has hurt Atletico Madrid on many occasions in the past, and it will be interesting to see if the 37-year-old goes turns back the clock and puts in a classic display against Atleti to lead United to a crucial victory.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Manchester United
It is a tough one to call, considering how inconsistent both teams have been this season. Atletico Madrid have hardly shown the defensive solidity and assurance they are known for, while their attack has been misfiring quite a fair bit. The weekend win over Osasuna will have given them a boost, but the absence of Koke, Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Lemar could be telling.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have shown some signs of progress under Ralf Rangnick, with their chance-creation improving of late, and they will back themselves to carve out opportunities against an Atletico backline that has been well below its best.
With Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes in fine form and given Cristiano Ronaldo’s excellent record against the Colchoneros, the visitors are likely to come away with a narrow victory.
