It was another poor performance from Manchester United in a season increasingly full of them from Michael Carrick’s side, as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
The defeat sees Man United (3 points, +2 GD) slip to 7th in the Champions League table. Atletico Madrid (3 points, +1) are up to 13th with their first win in the competition.
Below is live coverage of Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United, including highlights, analysis, and more.
It was so, so easy for Atleti to unlock United’s defense. Julian Alvarez dropped in and played a ball over the top for Alex Baena to run on to and he carried all the way into the penalty area before laying it square across the box to the on-rushing Pablo Barrios.
Disaster for a Man United side already low on confidence.
ATLETI IN THE FIRST MINUTE VS MAN UNITED ‼️
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 13, 2026
Pablo Barrios opens the scoring for the home side 😤
Watch #UCL on @paramountplus 📺 pic.twitter.com/4IjvtXJIX9
Jonathan David put the initial effort on target and forced Senne Lammens to make a fantastic stretching save, but he couldn’t get more than fingertips to it and pushed it into Lookman’s path at the back post. A tap-in from there.
It’s a real uphill climb for United now, down two goals and a player.
- Manchester United fail to win for fifth straight game in all competitions (0W-2D-3L). Red Devils have only beaten newly promoted Ipswich Town and Azerbaijani side Sabah FK this season.
- Man United conceded after 50 seconds and Atletico Madrid never looked back. Julian Alvarez and Alex Baena set up Pablo Barrios for the opener.
- VAR the only reason it wasn’t 2-0 at halftime. USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso had a stunning goal ruled out for handball by Marcos Llorente in the 44th minute.
- Leny Yoro sent off for DOGSO in 74th. Contact was minimal between Yoro and Jonathan David, but no doubt it was an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
- Ademola Lookman put the game to bed five minutes later. Senne Lammens made a difficult save but couldn’t push it clear of Lookman at the back post.
It’s hard to tell whether the foul was when Yoro came together, but didn’t really collide with Jonathan David as he ran in behind United’s defense, or if there was contact made between the two players’ legs as they crossed paths just past the center circle.
Not exactly clear and obvious, but that’s the call.
Halftime stats
Possession: 66-34
Shots: 6-4
On target: 2-2
xG: 0.33-0.68
Passes: 348-160
What a strike by USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso from outside the box, but it won’t count because Marcos Llorente handled the ball just before passing it to Cardoso. There was nothing Llorente could do about it as Ayden Heaven kicked it off his thigh and on to his right hand from just inches away, but it’s clear as day that ball made contact with hand.
Bryan Mbeumo was the United player who went closest to equalizing with a left-footed shot in the 24th minute. Atleti have dominated possession and without really threatening to score again, but they look rock solid when they drop in to defend (typical).
Carlos Baleba makes his first start for Manchester United after coming off the bench for his debut on the weekend, and all eyes will be on him. The 22-year-old Cameroon international made an instant impact and flipped the game on its head after United struggled terribly for 60 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur.
Can he have the same impact from the start? Can he do it against a side that makes life in midfield as difficult as Atleti do?
Heading into matchday 2, here is how the Champions League table looks for Atleti and United…
4. Manchester United — 3 points, +4 GD
25. Atletico Madrid — 0 points, -1 GD
Lammens - Yoro, Heaven, Martinez, Dalot - Baleba, Santos, Tielemans, Fernandes - Mbeumo, Rashford
Representing United in Madrid... 👊🔥 pic.twitter.com/yppqbPxIN3
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 13, 2026
Oblak - Llorente, Hancko, Romero, Grimaldo - Cardoso, Lee, Barrios - Baena, Simeone, Alvarez
XI 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/icMKzO7VCh
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) October 13, 2026
The Metropolitano Stadium is a beauty and a real gem, isn’t it? No wonder the Champions League final is coming back again already (this season).
Touchdown at Estadio Metropolitano 📍🇪🇸
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 13, 2026
Atletico Madrid
None
Manchester United
OUT: Benjamin Sesko (shin), Patrick Dorgu (thigh), Manuel Ugarte (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Luke Shaw (undisclosed), Kobbie Mainoo (undisclosed), Noussair Mazraoui (back), Tom Heaton (hamstring)
All-time record
Man United: 0 wins
Atletico Madrid: 2 wins
Draws: 2
Recent results
Man United 0-1 Atletico Madrid (2022)
Atletico Madrid 1-1 Man United (2022)
Man United 1-1 Atletico Madrid (1991)
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Man United (1991)
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday (October 13)
Venue: Estadio Metropolitano — Madrid, Spain
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
