Desperate for a positive spark to reinvigorate their season, struggling Manchester United will travel to face in-form Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday for matchday two of the Champions League’s league phase.
Los Rojiblancos are eyeing a fifth win on the bounce in midweek, while the Red Devils are looking for their first in five games.
United have endured a dire run to date, and it would be a surprise to see them turn it around on Tuesday.
The Red Devils were 4-0 victors over debutants
Sabah in their Champions League opener, though they have failed to win any of their four outings since.
After consecutive defeats against Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion, Carrick’s men were held to back-to-back 1-1 draws, including a humiliating stalemate with 10-man Tottenham, which saw the Londoners earn a deserved point at Old Trafford thanks to a 92nd-minute header from Dominic Solanke.
That disappointing result conjured boos from Man United fans – not for the first time in recent months – and has left supporters with little reason for optimism looking back on a four-game winless run across all competitions.
Those searching for hope despite the odds in midweek could look to the Red Devils’ record against Spanish sides, which has seen them lose just one of their last 11, winning seven times and drawing on three occasions.
That being said, United have not beaten Atletico Madrid in any of their previous four competitive meetings, losing twice in the process and 2-1 on aggregate in their most recent encounter during the 2021-22 Champions League round of 16.
The difficult, physical matchup will be made more difficult with the absence of Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo. Neither player was part of the traveling squad to Madrid after starting against Tottenham at the weekend. The emergence of Leny Yoro as a right-back option could mean that Dalot slides over to the opposite side for this match, or perhaps Carrick has a tactical change for Europe that would accommodate the absence of a true starting-caliber left-back.
Champions League Schedule
It’s an evening kickoff in the UK, which means a 3:00 p.m. kickoff on the East Coast of the U.S.
Champions League Channel
The match is on Prime Video in the UK. Those Stateside can watch on Paramount+. In Canada, it’s on DAZN and Fubo.
Everyone else, head on over to LiveSoccerTV to find your viewing options.
Predicted Lineup
Manchester United possible starting lineup: (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Baleba, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha
