Atlético de Madrid is preparing to receive Manchester United at the Metropolitano on the second day of the group stage of the Champions League. The Colchonero team arrives with four consecutive victories in LaLiga, but without scoring in the continental competition after its defeat at Anfield. For its part, the “red devil” arrives without wins in the last four games and with several casualties that limit its squad.
Diego Simeone has all his players available for the match, which gives him confidence to continue fine-tuning the team's structure. Among the signings that have been integrated quickly are Grimaldo, Cuti, Kang-In Lee and Jonathan David, while the reinforcements from last year, such as Baena and Cardoso, have shown good performance. Additionally, the recovery of Barrios and Sorloth adds depth to the squad.
A point of attention will be Julián Álvarez, who has started in the group stage of the Premier League and who, according to the coach, could return to the starting lineup for this match. Álvarez has scored 17 goals and provided seven assists in 26 games in the Champions League, which makes him a key player for Atlético's attack.
Manchester United, for its part, arrives with a team that has suffered several injuries. Shaw, Mainoo, Sesko, Dorgu, Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte will not be available, but the club will be counting on Michael Carrick, who is expected to provide experience and leadership in midfield. The English team is looking for a boost in the Metropolitano, where the public usually favors the local team.
With Atlético Madrid showing good form in the league and United needing positive results, the match promises to be a high-tension duel. The next step will be to see how Simeone adjusts his tactics to take advantage of the stadium advantage and how United try to reverse their losing streak in search of a vital point in the group stage.