Madrid carries a particular kind of European anticipation on nights when Atlético de Madrid welcome English opposition, and the Metropolitano will stage another such meeting at 21:00 as Diego Simeone’s side face Manchester United in the second round of the Champions League.
Atlético arrive needing a response after their 2-1 opening defeat at Liverpool. United, by contrast, began their campaign with a 4-0 win over Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah. The contrast between those first results gives the evening a different texture: the home side looking to settle their continental footing, the visitors seeking to carry early momentum from one capital to another.
Teams set for a night at the Metropolitano
Jan Oblak starts in goal for Atlético, behind a defence of Marcos Llorente, David Hancko, Cristian Romero and Alejandro Grimaldo. Giuliano Simeone, Pablo Barrios, Johnny Cardoso and Álex Baena make up the midfield line, with Julián Álvarez joined by Kang-in Lee in attack.
United select Lammens in goal, with Heaven, Lisandro Martínez, Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot across the back. Bruno Fernandes, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos are named through midfield, while Bryan Mbeumo, Carlos Baleba and Marcus Rashford form the forward unit.
Atlético’s alternatives include Musso, Pubill, Le Normand, Dominguez, Dani Martínez, Mendoza, Hjulmand, Castillo, Sorloth, Lookman, Jonathan David and Arnau Ortiz. United have Mee and Darlow among their goalkeeping cover, alongside De Ligt, Maguire, Amass, Armer, Mason Mount, Fletcher, Matheus Cunha, Zirkzee, Diallo and Lacey.
Koke is unavailable to Simeone for personal reasons. United travel without Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Mazraoui, Dorgu, Sesko, Darlow, Heaton and Ugarte, each ruled out through injury.
Simeone and a long English shadow
The occasion also places Simeone beside one of the game’s enduring managerial comparisons. United’s coach is the 11th man to attempt the task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson over the past 13 years, while the Argentine remains the defining constant at Atlético.
Koke made that parallel in 2022, saying Simeone possessed the energy, appetite and fighting character to occupy at Atlético a role similar to Ferguson’s at United, qualities he felt continued to reach the club’s supporters. The thought returns whenever these institutions meet: one shaped by sustained continuity in Madrid, the other still negotiating life after an era-defining manager.
Nearly 71,000 spectators can fit inside the Metropolitano, where Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg will take charge. Pol Van Boekel is assigned to video review duties. For Atlético, it is an opportunity to turn an early European stumble into a more familiar home-night statement; for United, the journey to Spain offers a sterner measure of their opening victory.
