Team manager Ralf Rangnick has to worry about a place in the quarter-finals with English record champions Manchester United in the Champions League.
In the round of 16 first leg at Spanish title holders Atlético Madrid, the Red Devils drew 1-1 (0-1). In the second leg on March 15 (Tuesday), however, the team around superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will have the chance to do better in front of their home crowd.
Madrid’s young star Joao Felix (7th) initially put the home side in the lead with a wonderful diving header. However, substitute Swede Anthony Elanga secured the draw for the Brits ten minutes before the final whistle.
Madrid coach Diego Simeone surprised Manchester in the early stages. Contrary to their formal line-up, the Spaniards, who were beaten in the domestic league, made one attack after the other on the guest goal with their ex-keeper David de Gea between the posts, even without their star strikers Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann. After taking the lead, Atlético hit the crossbar again from Manchester’s goal during their urge phase.
ManUnited with a bumpy journey
Only in the final phase of the first round did Atlético’s pressure ease off a bit. Manchester still got few opportunities to implement Rangnick’s requirements for more ball possession.
The English had already had to change their plans at short notice when they arrived. After the escalation in the Ukraine conflict, according to several media reports, the club canceled the flight to Madrid originally planned with the Russian flight partner Aeroflot and chartered a machine for the trip from another provider.
Manchester’s game appeared just as bumpy as the journey after the change of sides. Ronaldo and his congenial teammate Paul Pogba continued to practically not take place. Even as Madrid slowed down early in the closing stages, Rangnick’s side were unable to take advantage of the larger spaces before Elanga completed a quick counter-attack with somewhat surprising success.