Atlético de Madrid has announced its lineup for the Champions League match against Manchester United, revealing a series of changes compared to the team that played the start against Alavés in Vitoria. Coach Diego Pablo Simeone has decided to put goalkeeper Jan Oblak back in goal, a decision that was expected. In defense, the coach has retired Robin Le Normand and Juan Manuel Pabillón, leaving Marcos Llorente, Cuti Romero, Hancko and Grimaldo as the four center backs who will form the defensive line.
In midfield, Simeone's strategy includes Giuliano and Alex Baena on the wings, while the double pivot is made up of Barrios and Cardoso. For the second half, key players such as Hjulmand and Lookman are expected to enter, who will bring experience and energy to the midfield. Up front, the attack will be led by Kang-in Lee and Julián Álvarez, two players who have shown dynamism and scoring ability in recent games.
The coach has decided not to include high-profile players such as Jonathan David or Alexander Sorloth in the list, opting for a more compact eleven focused on the team's experience. Thus, Atlético will appear at the Metropolitan stadium with the following lineup: Oblak; Llorente, Romero, Hancko, Grimaldo; Giuliano, Barrios, Cardoso, Baena; Kang-in Lee and Julián Álvarez.
For its part, Manchester United has reported that it will have a squad that includes Lammens in goal; in defense, Heaven, Yoro, Lisandro and Dalot; in the center of the field, Tielemans and Santos; and up front, Baleba, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Mbeumo. The match promises to be a clash of styles, with Atlético looking to consolidate their position in the group stage and United trying to advance to the next round.