Atlético Madrid beat 10-man Manchester United 2-0 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday 13 October, handing Michael Carrick’s side their first defeat of the Champions League league phase. Pablo Barrios scored inside the first minute and substitute Ademola Lookman added the second after Leny Yoro was sent off. The match kicked off at 3am on Wednesday, Singapore time.
The night began in mourning. Both teams wore black armbands and the stadium held a minute’s silence for Ana María Merodio Borja, the mother of Atlético captain Koke and of youth-team assistant coach Borja Resurrección, who died in Madrid that morning.
A goal before the first minute was out
United were behind almost before they had touched the ball. Álex Baena broke into the area down the left and laid the ball back across goal, and Barrios met it first time for 1-0 with the clock still showing the first minute.
Atlético kept coming. Jan Oblak made a sharp save at the other end midway through the half, Alejandro Grimaldo hit the post with a free kick in the 26th minute, and Diego Simeone was booked on the touchline in the 37th minute. Johnny Cardoso thought he had doubled the lead just before half-time, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review found a handball earlier in the move.
The woodwork, then the red card
Julián Alvarez hit the post with a first-time shot from a Barrios pass nine minutes after the restart, and Marcus Rashford was booked in the 52nd minute. Carrick changed three at once in the 66th minute, sending on Mason Mount, Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee for Carlos Baleba, Rashford and Youri Tielemans.
It ended in the 74th minute. Yoro brought down Jonathan David, the substitute who had replaced Lee Kang-in, and referee Glenn Nyberg showed him a straight red card after a VAR review. Five minutes later Lookman, on for Baena in the 71st minute, finished the move that put the game away. Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha came on for Ayden Heaven and Bruno Fernandes in the 80th minute, by which point the contest was over.
Where it leaves United
United opened the league phase with a 4-0 win over Sabah at Old Trafford five weeks ago, and both clubs now have three points from two games after Atlético lost 2-1 at Liverpool in their opener. United have still not beaten Atlético in five competitive meetings, and the result follows a 1-1 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Their next Champions League game is away to Como; in the Premier League they travel to Leeds United at Elland Road.
