Atlético Madrid v Man Utd preview: kick-off time, team news and form
Manchester United head to Spain on Tuesday night to take on Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, with kick-off at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano set for 8pm UK time.
It's a tricky trip for a United side who sit 13th in the Premier League and have endured what the Guardian describes as their "worst league start" in 40 years (The Guardian). United did at least open their Champions League campaign with a win, sitting on three points from their opening game, while Atlético have made a rockier start to the league phase, having lost their first fixture and sitting down in 25th place in the table with no points on the board.
Form going into this one makes for interesting reading. Atlético arrive on the back of a difficult Champions League opener but have since put together a strong run of results domestically, including notable wins over major rivals. United, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency, picking up draws and defeats in their last few outings before this trip, though Manchester Evening News notes they go into the game still boasting a 100 per cent winning record in the Champions League league phase so far this season (Manchester Evening News).
United and Atlético have history in this competition, having met in the Round of 16 four years ago, a tie United will remember for a 1-1 draw before going on to lose the reverse leg, as Manchester Evening News recalls (Manchester Evening News). There's also a human-interest angle, with the same publisher looking back at an Atlético icon whose loan spell at Old Trafford didn't work out, despite him having no regrets about it (Manchester Evening News).
On the team news front, there's a boost for United with the return of Matthijs de Ligt, who has been named in the travelling squad for the trip, according to the Evening Standard (Evening Standard). However, the squad has been hit by a number of injury issues. The Evening Standard reports that Luke Shaw will miss a second Champions League match in a row, leaving a selection dilemma at left-back with Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui both in the mix (Evening Standard). Manchester Evening News adds that two more players have been ruled out for this fixture (Manchester Evening News), while an earlier update detailed as many as six players potentially set to miss out following a double injury blow sustained in the draw with Tottenham (Manchester Evening News). There had been some concern over Bruno Fernandes, but those fears have reportedly been cooled, with the club's own site reporting that the fitness worries over the captain have been played down (ManUtd.com).
Manchester Evening News also reports that United have stopped revealing their squads ahead of Champions League away games, a change in approach ahead of this trip to Spain (Manchester Evening News).
You can follow all the action from the Riyadh Air Metropolitano when Atlético Madrid host Manchester United in the Champions League, with kick-off at 8pm UK time on Tuesday.
Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.