Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United: Anthony Elanga's late goal boost visitors' hopes of Champions League progression

2 years ago 42

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Last updated on 5 minutes ago.From the section European Football

Anthony Elanga's late equaliser boosted Manchester United's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they fought back to draw against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The 19-year-old had been on the pitch less than six minutes after replacing Marcus Rashford, when he raced onto Bruno Fernandes' perfectly-weighted pass to roll the ball past home goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Until that point it had looked as though Diego Simeone's Spanish champions were going to take a narrow advantage to Old Trafford after delivering a masterclass in controlling the game without dominating possession.

Joao Felix's early header from Renan Lodi's inviting cross gave the hosts a dream start with United looking ragged on their right, where interim boss Ralf Rangnick's gamble of playing Victor Lindelof at full-back failed badly.

The Swedish central defender looked uncomfortable throughout and was booked for a tug on Felix before his miserable evening was ended prematurely by his withdrawal midway through the second half.

By then Atletico could and perhaps should have been two goals ahead with Sime Vrsaljko heading the ball off Lindelof and onto the United bar in the closing moments of the first half after some more dismal defending.

While Rangnick's side enjoyed plenty of the ball, they were slow and indecisive in possession and barely looked capable of carving open their well drilled opponents who repeatedly picked off every sloppy United pass in midfield.

However, Elanga's late introduction and goal changes the complexion of the tie before the second leg in Manchester in three weeks time.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Atl Madrid

Formation 3-5-2

13Oblak
15Savic
2GiménezBooked at 78mins
23MandavaBooked at 63mins
24Vrsaljko
14LlorenteBooked at 77mins
4Kondogbia
16HerreraBooked at 45mins
12Lodi dos SantosSubstituted forLemarat 76'minutes
10Correa
7SequeiraSubstituted forGriezmannat 76'minutes

Substitutes

1Lecomte
5de Paul
8Griezmann
9Suárez
11Lemar
18Felipe
22Hermoso
26Serrano
31Gómez

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

1de Gea
2LindelöfBooked at 60minsSubstituted forWan-Bissakaat 66'minutes
19Varane
5Maguire
23ShawBooked at 50minsSubstituted forTellesat 67'minutesBooked at 83mins
17FredBooked at 74mins
6PogbaSubstituted forMaticat 66'minutes
10RashfordBooked at 65minsSubstituted forElangaat 75'minutes
18Bruno Fernandes
25SanchoSubstituted forLingardat 82'minutes
7Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

3Bailly
4Jones
8Mata
14Lingard
20Dalot
22Heaton
26Henderson
27Telles
29Wan-Bissaka
31Matic
36Elanga
46Mejbri

Live Text

Match ends, Atletico Madrid 1, Manchester United 1.
Second Half ends, Atletico Madrid 1, Manchester United 1.
Attempt saved. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fred.
Foul by Anthony Elanga (Manchester United).
Geoffrey Kondogbia (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Marcos Llorente.
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid).
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Bruno Fernandes.
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Marcos Llorente following a corner.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Raphaël Varane.
Attempt missed. José Giménez (Atletico Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Stefan Savic with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Hand ball by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
Alex Telles (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Alex Telles (Manchester United).
Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Jadon Sancho.
Goal! Atletico Madrid 1, Manchester United 1. Anthony Elanga (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.