Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo (37) have to worry about the quarterfinals!
In the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, the English played 1-1 at Atlético in Madrid’s atmospheric hell. Not a bad starting position for the second leg, but the performance wasn’t convincing.
After just seven minutes, over 50,000 Atletico fans can already celebrate the first goal.
7 minutes: After a clarified corner, left-back Lodi gets the ball again. His sharp cross finds the head of João Félix (22), who first hits the inside of the post, but is then able to celebrate. The early 1:0!
ManUnited plays sleepily and is sometimes overrun by the aggressive pressing of the hosts. Significant: Superstar Ronaldo is more likely to attract attention with frustrated looks and fouls than with dangerous ball actions.
The Portuguese can be happy that it was only 0-1 at the break. Because just before half-time, Vrsaljko heads in at United defender Lindelöf from close range, but the ball only hits the crossbar!
In the second half, Madrid coach Diego Simeone orders his team further back and lets United play the game. Great chances remain scarce for the English record champions.
Up to the 80th minute! Then Ralf Rangnick’s (63) squad equalizes out of nowhere. Fernandes sends top talent Anthony Elanga (19), who came on as a substitute just four minutes earlier. The Swede runs alone to Madrid keeper Oblak and remains ice cold.
Elanga again! Already at the weekend he snapped the 4-2 win in Leeds as a joker for the final score. With him, Man United coach Ralf Rangnick also proves to have a good hand in Madrid.
Everything is now open for the second leg on March 15th. Also because the Red Devils have aluminum luck again shortly before the end. Again the crossbar prevented a goal being conceded, as the shot from substitute Griezmann only landed on the crossbar in the 87th minute.
In the second game of the evening, Ajax and Benfica also drew. In the 2-2, the Dutch were ahead twice each through Tadić (18′) and Haller (29′), but both times Lisbon equalized with a Haller own goal (26′) and Yaremchuk (72′).
