In the round of 16 phase of the 2022 Champions League, Atlético de Madrid and Manchester United faced each other in a duel that was marked by the close score and the participation of players who today are no longer part of the squads of either team. The match, which was played over two days, ended 1‑1 at the Metropolitano and 0‑1 at Old Trafford, with Renán Lodi's goal for United.
Atlético managed to advance thanks to João Félix's finish in the first match, while the second match saw Lodi score the only goal of the match, ensuring United's victory. Despite the importance of those goals, most of the players who participated in that tie are no longer on their teams. At Atlético, only three of the original eleven remain: Jan Oblak, Koke and Marcos Llorente, who today occupy the position of club captain. At Manchester United, five players remain in the squad: Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw, although the latter is absent due to injury.
United, which in that phase appeared solid in the midfield with the duo of Héctor Herrera and Kondgobia, also had the presence of players who at that time did not leave a lasting mark on the club. Among them, Renán Lodi, who assisted João Félix at the Metropolitano and then scored the decisive goal at Old Trafford, and other midfielders who did not continue in the same line of play in subsequent years.
The fact that Rashford, who was at Barcelona last season, remains a key player at United, highlights the club's evolution under Michael Carrick. Meanwhile, Atlético has seen how its most notable players from that campaign have changed course, with Oblak, Koke and Llorente maintaining their leadership within the team.
With the 2022 Champions League already in the past, both teams have followed different paths. Atlético, after their elimination against Manchester City in the quarterfinals, has reinforced its squad with new additions, while United continues to consolidate its current squad with players who have proven their worth in recent years. The next phase of the competition promises new matches and the opportunity for other players from both teams to become protagonists.