Atlético Madrid struck before the night had properly settled, then waited for Manchester United’s resistance to crack. Pablo Barrios scored within the opening minute and Ademola Lookman sealed a 2-0 Champions League win after Leny Yoro’s late red card at the Metropolitano.
Atlético find the fast lane
- Atlético took control seconds after kick-off through a sweeping counter-attack. Cristian “Cuti” Romero beat United’s press and found Giuliano Simeone dropping deep in his own half.
- Giuliano Simeone released Alex Baena into space, and Baena’s final ball sent Barrios through to beat goalkeeper Senne Lammens in the first minute.
- The early goal gave Diego Simeone’s side the ideal platform after their 2-1 opening Champions League defeat at Liverpool on 9 September.
- Manchester United grew into the contest and had a clear first-half chance, but Bryan Mbeumo was denied by Jan Oblak in the 24th minute.
- Atlético thought they had added another goal shortly before the interval, only for Marcos Llorente’s effort to be ruled out for handball.
United hit the frame but lose Yoro
- Julian Alvarez, starting as he looks to rebuild momentum, struck the post in the 55th minute after Barrios supplied him.
- United captain Bruno Fernandes then came close twice: his attempted lob drifted narrowly past Oblak’s right-hand post in the 57th minute, before another effort hit the crossbar in the 70th.
- At 1-0, United still had a route back into the game despite struggling for consistency in the Premier League, where they stood 13th after beating Kazakh outsiders Sabah 4-0 in their first Champions League match.
- That route disappeared in the 74th minute when 20-year-old France international Yoro was sent off for bringing down Jonathan David as the forward moved towards goal. The contact was slight, but the referee judged that Yoro had stopped a scoring opportunity.
- Atlético made the numerical advantage count five minutes later. Lammens saved David’s shot, but Lookman reacted quickest to turn in the rebound and make it 2-0.
It was Atlético’s first Champions League victory of the season, earned with an explosive beginning and confirmed when United, after their near misses, were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages.
