Atletico Madrid Host Manchester United in Champions League: Preview and Lineups

The Champions League returns for matchday two, with the spotlight on a clash between an Atletico Madrid side flying high in La Liga and a Manchester United mired in crisis in the Premier League. The match kicks off at 21:00 on Tuesday, October 13 (19:00 GMT) at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain. Al Jazeera Sport will provide live coverage from 16:00 GMT.

The two teams head into the game in contrasting moods. Atletico are competing at the top of La Liga with Barcelona, while Manchester United sit in the lower half of the Premier League table, trailing all of their traditional rivals. For Atletico, left-sided midfielder Alex Baena and striker Jonathan David have been key figures, while United are relying on captain Bruno Fernandes and forward Bryan Mbeumo to turn their fortunes around. This will be the fifth meeting between the two clubs and the third in the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid's form this season

Atletico have made a promising start to the 2026-27 season, sitting second in La Liga, five points behind leaders and reigning champions Barcelona. In eight matches they have won six, drawn one and lost one, including a tense 2-1 derby victory over Real Madrid.

Manchester United's form this season

United are enduring their worst start in several seasons, lying 12th in the Premier League on six points, with one win in six games (three draws, two defeats). Their losses include a controversial 0-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City.

Champions League matchday one

Atletico lost 1-2 to Liverpool at Anfield in their Champions League opener, while Manchester United thrashed Azerbaijan's Sabah 4-0. Those results left Atletico 25th and United fourth in the league phase. The top eight teams after the league phase qualify directly for the knockout stage.

Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United prediction

The Opta supercomputer gives Atletico a 48.5% chance of winning, Manchester United 27.2% and a draw 24.3%.

Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United head-to-head

• Meetings: 4
• Atletico wins: 2
• Manchester United wins: 0
• Draws: 2

Previous meetings:

• 15 March 2022: Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
• 23 February 2022: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United (Champions League)
• 6 November 1991: Manchester United 1-1 Atletico Madrid (UEFA Cup Winners' Cup)
• 23 October 1991: Atletico Madrid 3-0 Manchester United (UEFA Cup Winners' Cup)

Recent form

(Last five matches in all competitions, most recent first)

Atletico Madrid: W-W-W-W-L

Manchester United: D-D-L-L-W

Players to watch

Alex Baena and Jonathan David (Atletico): Baena is in fine form for both club and country, with four goals and two assists for Atletico this season. Up front, striker David has three goals and two assists.

Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United): Captain Fernandes is the team's top scorer with four goals in all competitions plus one assist. Forward Mbeumo has three goals and one assist.

Manager quotes

Diego Simeone (Atletico):

On Julian Alvarez's goalless season so far: "I think strikers with Julian's characteristics always need goals, not just him. It's true that beyond his finishing ability, he is a team player, someone who can link up very well, set up others and has more weapons than just scoring."

On facing Manchester United: "It will be a long, difficult match and we have to manage our energy to perform well."

Michael Carrick (Manchester United):

On United's poor form: "We have to stay optimistic and keep doing the right things. We need to play better and we need more points, of course."

On facing Atletico: "We have big games coming up and we're looking ahead to Tuesday. A fresh start, a new match and we'll go there excited."

Key facts

• Atletico are unbeaten in all four meetings between the clubs (two wins, two draws). The most recent was in the 2021-22 Champions League round of 16, when they drew 1-1 in Madrid and won 1-0 in Manchester.
• Atletico also dethroned Manchester United as Cup Winners' Cup holders in 1991-92, winning 4-1 on aggregate (3-0 at home, 1-1 away).
• Manchester United have lost just one of their last 11 matches against Spanish opponents (seven wins, three draws). They beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 away and 4-1 at home in the 2024-25 Europa League semi-finals, recording three consecutive wins.
• United's last 10 matches against Spanish sides have produced 35 goals, an average of 3.5 per game.

Team news and predicted lineups

Atletico Madrid

Atletico have a fully fit squad.

Predicted lineup:

Jan Oblak; Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero, David Hancko; Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Giuliano Simeone; Kang-in Lee, Alex Baena; Julian Alvarez

Manchester United

United have as many as five players out injured: Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), Benjamin Sesko (shin), Tom Heaton (stomach), Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Matthijs de Ligt (back).

Predicted lineup:

Senne Lammens; Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot; Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Marcus Rashford