Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Relive all the action from the first-leg clash at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium
Super sub Anthony Elanga spared Manchester United’s blushes at Atletico Madrid as Ralf Rangnick’s side snatched a scarcely deserved 1-1 draw in the first leg of this Champions League last-16 tie.
Wednesday’s clash at a rocking Wanda Metropolitano brought together two Jekyll and Hyde sides that stand no chance of ending challenging seasons with domestic honours.
United again underwhelmed on Wednesday evening, but teenage substitute Elanga cancelled out Joao Felix’s early bullet header to secure Rangnick’s men what could prove to be an important draw with Atletico.
The interim manager may, in truth, have been satisfied to leave Spain with a narrow first-leg loss given the abolishment of away goals and the fact his side floundered for much of the night.
Felix’s thundering early header gave Atleti a seventh-minute lead and cumbersome United were breathing a sigh of relief when Sime Vrsaljko hit the crossbar just before the break.
The home fans certainly enjoyed Real Madrid great Cristiano Ronaldo struggling for United, who would score with their first shot on target in the 80th minute.
Teenage substitute Elanga kept his cool after being put through by Bruno Fernandes and slotted past Jan Oblak, with Antoine Griezmann rattling the woodwork as Diego Simeone’s Atleti pushed for a late winner.
Relive all the action below.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
45 mins: SO CLOSE TO 2-0! A quick free-kick is played to Lodi and he fires in a cross which clips off the foot of Fernandes and Llorente can only direct it onto the underside of the bar and it bounces out!
Llorente was only six yards out but he had to adjust his body after the little deflection. United so, so lucky not to be two goals behind.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
44 mins: Lindelof with a decent delivery into the middle which evades Rashford in the middle. It then comes back in from Sancho but again no player is on the end of it in a Manchester United shirt.
Kondogbia then frustrates Pogba once again as he shields the ball and draws a free-kick inside the United half.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
41 mins: That’s so poor from Ronaldo. United work their way out of their own half well but Ronaldo then plays a sloppy pass towards Pogba and Atletico win a free-kick as the Frenchman attempts to try and win it back.
Ronaldo is then fouled by Vrsaljko and he complains to the ref once more before returning to the ground for some treatment.
Atletico quickly win it back and Kondogbia drives into the United penalty area before picking the wrong pass as he aims to find Felix. Kondogbia has been the man of the match so far. He has been running the midfield.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
38 mins: Ronaldo has a shot! Finally a sniff of goal for the Portuguese superstar as he let’s fly from 25 yards out but it’s well wide of Jan Oblak’s right hand post.
It’s really not been his evening so far as Atletico have dominated (almost) the first quarter of this Champions League last 16 tie.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
36 mins: Ralf Rangnick’s credentials as an elite manager are being put to the test tonight and so far he is coming up horribly short.
Ronaldo reacts stroppily again as Correa fouls him on the halfway line. He is not a happy boy at the moment.
United continue to pass the ball around aimlessly among their defenders. Atletico will eat that up all day.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
33 mins: Ajax lead Benfica 2-1. Haller.
Meanwhile, Man Utd are having a nightmare right now. They give the ball away again and Varane concedes a foul right on the edge of the box on the left-hand side.
It’s whipped in and cleared away by Ronaldo.
Manchester United try to break but Ronaldo gives a free-kick away. He is fuming, but it was a foul.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
31 mins: Every time Manchester United build their way out of their own half they look as if they are going to get caught in possession. It must be terrifying to watch as a supporter.
Ronaldo has dropped deeper and now appears to be playing on the right as Rashford takes up a more central role.
Varane nearly gives the ball away but another free-kick is given for a foul by Correa. It’s high-risk stuff.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
29 mins: Sebastien Haller has just scored an own goal in the other game so Benfica and Ajax are now level at 1-1.
In Spain, Lodi and Correa link up superbly down the left-hand side (Lindelof is being toyed with on that flank) and the cross reaches Felix at the back post but he can’t keep his shot down.
Worth saying that Ronaldo has barely had a kick so far.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
27 mins: Ronaldo feeds the ball down the right for Rashford and the Englishman sets off in pursuit. He pushes the ball in front of him and tries to beat Savic for pace but the former Manchester City man just about gets across with a full-blooded sliding tackle.
United have had 67 per cent possession so far but that does not tell the story at all. Since the goal, Atletico have been happy to sit in and United have barely laid a finger on them.
The Spaniards nick the ball midway inside the United half but the ref blows for a free-kick on Fred. It wasn’t. United get away with one.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
24 mins: Dusan Tadic has given Ajax the lead against Benfica in the other Champions League game this evening.
Meanwhile, Llorente scoops a ball in towards Lodi at the back post but Lindelof is there to head behind and then the flag goes up anyway.
Atletico definitely winning the midfield battle at the moment. Fred and Pogba are being bypassed.
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