Atletico Madrid vs Man Utd preview: Carrick faces selection test in Spain

Manchester United visit Atletico Madrid on Tuesday seeking their first victory in five matches, with Michael Carrick facing fresh selection problems before the Champions League clash.

United opened their European campaign with a 4-0 win over Sabah, but their domestic results since then have increased the importance of a convincing response in Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s side present a demanding assignment. Atletico have won four successive matches and will be looking to collect their first Champions League points after losing their opener against Liverpool.

Kick-off at the Metropolitano is 8pm BST on Tuesday 13 October.

United need a response after Tottenham setback

United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Saturday was particularly frustrating because of the position they surrendered.

Bryan Mbeumo put them ahead in the 73rd minute. Rodrigo Bentancur’s dismissal five minutes later then left Spurs chasing the game with ten men, only for Dominic Solanke to equalise in stoppage time.

For Carrick, Tuesday is about more than finding another goal. United need to turn favourable moments into control and avoid giving their opponents a route back into the contest.

That does not necessarily mean retreating if they score first. Keeping possession, maintaining an attacking outlet and making effective substitutions can all help protect a lead.

Those are the decisions worth watching in Madrid after United failed to see out Saturday’s game. Against opponents arriving with greater momentum, the consequences of another lapse could be significant.

Man Utd team news: De Ligt travels

Matthijs de Ligt has travelled with United, with the defender appearing in the club’s official departure gallery.

His inclusion is an encouraging step following a lengthy absence, although travelling does not establish that he is ready to start or play.

Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo missed Monday’s training. A subsequent report by The Sun says both have been ruled out of the Atletico match.

Their reported absences would affect two important areas of Carrick’s side: his options on the left of defence and the composition of his midfield.

Diogo Dalot offers a possible solution at left-back, while Carlos Baleba is among the midfield alternatives after coming off the bench against Tottenham. Neither selection is confirmed.

Patrick Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui and Benjamin Sesko have also been dealing with injuries. With several fitness issues influencing the available combinations, Carrick’s eventual team sheet will be particularly significant.

Atletico form and team news

Atletico extended their winning run by beating Alaves 2-1 on Saturday.

Alejandro Grimaldo scored their opener and Cristian Romero supplied the late winner, maintaining the momentum built since their Champions League defeat by Liverpool.

Simeone has considerably fewer reported fitness concerns than Carrick. Spanish newspaper AS reported that his full squad was available in the build-up.

That gives him scope to change personnel without relying on players returning from lengthy layoffs. Julián Álvarez, Álex Baena and Kang-in Lee are among the attacking options competing for involvement.

For United, the challenge is to remain organised while retaining enough ambition to threaten at the other end. Allowing Atletico to dictate the entire evening would place a substantial burden on a defence already facing selection questions.

Atletico Madrid vs Man Utd head-to-head

United have not won any of the clubs’ four previous competitive meetings, drawing twice and losing twice.

Their most recent competitive encounters came in the Champions League last 16 in 2022. A 1-1 draw in Madrid was followed by Atletico’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, sending Simeone’s side through 2-1 on aggregate.

Atletico also eliminated United from the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991.

Those results explain the difficult history of this fixture, but they offer limited guidance on the players who will decide Tuesday’s match. Current form and availability are more relevant to the immediate contest.

Dave.Sport verdict

Atletico are our pick to win, based on their recent results, home advantage and stronger reported squad availability.

United’s opening European victory means they arrive with points already secured, but the Sabah result alone cannot answer the questions raised by their subsequent performances.

A disciplined display would be a useful step for Carrick. To take all three points, United will also need to make their attacking opportunities count and manage the closing stages better than they did against Spurs.

Kick-off time and how to watch

Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United kicks off at 8pm BST, or 9pm local time, on Tuesday 13 October.

The match is live in the UK on Prime Video, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm BST, according to Amazon’s confirmed broadcast schedule.

Related: Man Utd predicted XI vs Atletico Madrid: Baleba and Dalot to come in