Atletico Madrid welcome Manchester United to Metropolitano Stadium in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2021-22 UEFA Champions League.
Atletico qualified for this stage as Group B runners-up, whereas Manchester United advanced as winners of Group F.
Team News
Thomas Lemar is a doubt for Atletico as he awaits a negative test following a period of self-isolation after testing positive for Coronavirus.
Yannick Carrasco (suspension), Daniel Wass and Matheus Cunha (both knee) are ruled out.
Man Utd are likely to again be without Edinson Cavani as the Uruguayan continues to recover from a groin injury picked up earlier this month.
Tom Heaton (stomach) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain ruled out as Lee Grant and Phil Jones are added to the Champions League squad list.
Stat Attack
- Atletico are unbeaten in two previous European meetings against Man Utd (W1, D1), winning 3-0 at home and drawing 1-1 at Old Trafford in Second Round of 1991-92 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
- Man Utd lost their only previous visit to Atletico Madrid 3-0 in October 1991.
- Atletico Madrid have lost just one of four previous knockout ties at home against English opposition in the knockout stages of UEFA Champions League (W2, D1, L1).
- Atletico have scored in just one of their three Champions League home games this season – losing 2-3 to Liverpool in October (D1, L2).
- Four of Utd’s five away Champions League goals this season were scored by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Prediction
Having scraped their way through the Group Stage with just one point from three home games, Atletico definitely need to try and bring their best game here or at least claim a marginal defeat to give themselves a decent shot in the second leg.
Man Utd meanwhile were clinically excellent in attack against Leeds but their defence did again contain small lapses in focus, which seems to be a common theme which Atletico need to punish when chances fall their way.
Neither clubs though aren’t in the finest of winning form lately but Utd are unbeaten in their last nine matches – excluding penalty shootouts, so this should be a decent battle but I fancy Utd to win this given Atletico’s home issues in Europe this season.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Manchester United
Result: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United
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