Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United preview: in-form Atleti face a United side hit by injuries
Atletico Madrid host Manchester United at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in a meeting of two clubs heading in different directions. United started the league phase with a 4-0 win and are 4th; Atletico lost 2-1 and sit 26th.
Domestic form tells the opposite story. Atletico are 2nd in La Liga with 19 points from eight games and four wins in their last five. United are 13th in the Premier League with six points from six, with one win, three draws and a defeat in their last five.
The sides last met in competition in the 2021-22 Champions League round of 16: a 1-1 draw in Madrid, then a 1-0 Atletico win at Old Trafford. United won the most recent meeting, a 2-1 friendly in August 2026.
United's absence list is long: B. Sesko (leg), M. de Ligt (back), M. Ugarte (knee), N. Mazraoui, P. Dorgu (hamstring) and T. Heaton (abdominal strain) are all out. Atletico are without O. Vargas and R. Mendoza, both listed as inactive. Álex Baena has four goals and an assist for Atletico this season, with J. David on three goals.
2 : 4
1 : 4
2 : 3
3 : 6
0 : 2
0 : 1
3 : 4
1 : 1
3 : 2
2 : 3
0 : 0
2 : 1
1 : 3
2 : 2
0 : 1
3 : 0
