Atletico Madrid beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, adding to the pressure on United coach Michael Carrick. The match was played at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, and the result left United winless in five games across all competitions.
Pablo Barrios put the hosts ahead inside the first minute. Ademola Lookman added a second after United defender Leny Yoro was sent off in the 74th minute.
Barrios and Lookman goals decide the Madrid clash
Alex Baena found space behind the United defence and crossed for Barrios, and Ayden Heaven could not stop the shot from crossing the line. Atletico were ahead after just 50 seconds.
Bryan Mbuemo came close to an equaliser for the visitors, nudging the ball through Cristian Romero’s legs but firing just wide. Alejandro Grimaldo also struck the angle between post and crossbar with a free-kick.
Lookman’s goal came after 79 minutes, when he tucked home a rebound after goalkeeper Senne Lammens had denied Canada striker Jonathan David.
VAR decisions and Yoro’s dismissal shape the game
Johnny Cardoso’s neat finish before half-time was ruled out after a VAR review. The review showed the ball had struck Marcos Llorente’s hand during the build-up.
Yoro was dismissed after a VAR review for bringing down David when he was the last man. The red card set United back further and opened the door for Atletico’s second goal.
United rallied after the break. Bruno Fernandes’s lob drifted narrowly wide, and he later hit the crossbar from the left of the box following a corner routine. Julian Alvarez, who has yet to score this season, struck the post early in the second half, and Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a late save from Matheus Cunha.
Carrick’s team changes and United’s domestic struggles
Carrick gave Carlos Baleba his first start for the club since arriving from Brighton this summer. He also moved captain Fernandes out to the right side before later withdrawing him.
United have made their worst domestic start in 40 years, and the defeat was another blow. Carrick’s side now face a weekend visit to Leeds in the English top flight, where, as the report notes, improvement is badly needed.
Atletico were without captain Koke after the death of his mother. Simeone selected Alvarez from the start for the first time this season, after he tried to force a departure this summer. Atletico fans displayed the banner “Defend what we love” before kick-off, and the win gave Simeone’s side their first points after an opening defeat at Liverpool.
