Sloppy Man Utd claw their way back into Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid thanks to Anthony Elanga
Anthony Elanga came off the bench to keep sloppy Man Utd level in their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid, with the first leg ending as a 1-1 draw.
Man United were second best for the whole of the game, with no touches in the Atletico box in the first half.
However, their first shot on target of the encounter earned them a draw in the first leg of their Round of 16 contest.
For the game, United made three lineup changes. Fred, Marcus Rashford, and Raphael Varane — the latter a long-time rival of Atletico Madrid from his days with Real Madrid – were among those that arrived.
Throughout the first half, Atletico was the superior team.
After a development from a corner, they had the first chance of the game.
Jose Gimenez, on the other hand, was stopped by Victor Lindelof’s massive block.
The hosts were in control from the start, and when they took the lead in the seventh minute, there was nothing United could do to stop them.
After Renan Lodi’s cross, Joao Felix’s diving header hit the inside of the post and went over the line to make it 1-0.
After a run from Rashford, United’s first attempt came via Bruno Fernandes. However, it was diverted to the side for a corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a Real legend, had a quiet return to Madrid until the last 10 minutes of the first half when he took aim.
However, his effort was too wide to bother Jan Oblak.
A chance for an equalizer came when United won a free kick in an inviting position. However, Ronaldo did not test Oblak at all.
Instead, it was a younger attacker who brought United level. Anthony Elanga, on as a substitute in the 75th minute, got in behind the Atletico defence to latch onto a Fernandes pass.
He finished first time back across goal, five minutes after his introduction.
Atletico thought they had regained the lead when a substitute of their own, Antoine Griezmann, hit the bar with a scooped effort.
There were four minutes of stoppage time. Jesse Lingard forced a save from Oblak, but neither side could get a second goal. Therefore, they will reconvene next month all square.
The second leg will take place at Old Trafford on March 15th.
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