Man Utd Players Rated and Slated in Atletico Madrid Defeat

· GiveMeSport

We grade the Man Utd players from their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, ending the game with 10 men after a debatable red card.

United made the worst possible start, falling behind within a minute after a high press backfired and Alex Baena found himself in space behind the Red Devils defence. He set up Pablo Barrios, who made no mistake despite Ayden Heaven's best efforts.

Bryan Mbeumo had two decent chances within the first 15 minutes, first seeing a 1-on-1 blocked by a last-ditch challenge, and he then played a neat one-two with Youri Tielemans before being denied by Jan Oblak.

Atleti almost made it two before the break, and they thought they had through Johnny Cardoso, but a marginal handball in the build-up saw the goal chalked off, keeping United in the game going in at the break.

Just after the break, Julian Álvarez hit the post with a superb volley, and Michael Carrick wrung the changes with three substitutes after 65 minutes. United's chances of a comeback were dashed in the 74th minute when VAR adjudged Leny Yoro to have pulled down Jonathan David on the break, though it was a soft decision, with a little hand grappling and little more, while the ball had run across David's body and away from him. Atletico made the advantage pay shortly after when David took aim and was denied by Senne Lemmens, but Ademola Lookman was on-hand to tap home the rebound.

- Senne Lammens - C

Not much he could have done about the first goal. Made a good save for the second and was helpless for the second. As you would expect other than that.

- Diogo Dalot - F

Went missing for the opening goal, allowing the sharp Alex Baena to get in behind and setup the goal. Dalot was just as poor when he allowed Alvarez to drift in unmarked and unleash a volley in the 54th minute, and he was lucky the Argentine hit the post. Dalot's sloppy disasterclass was capped when he didn't get close enough and sat off for the second goal despite having cover behind him.

- Lisandro Martinez - C

Solid enough and rarely caught out, but he should have been aware of Jonathan David for the second. He was nowhere near him.

- Leny Yoro - B

Let off when Atletico had a goal disallowed. He was caught in no man's land when Cardoso received the ball in space just inside the box. But aside from that, Yoro put in a good shift and often recovered quickly whenever Alvarez gave him the slip. It's a fine achievement to keep Alvarez off the scoresheet, but his performance was soured when he was perhaps harshly sent off after 74 minutes. He brought down Jonathan David as he tried to race through on goal, but it was a little soft.

- Ayden Heaven - C

Tried to clear the opening goal off the line but couldn't quite get enough on it. Questionable positioning in the first place, though. Heaven did well on the ball and set a far few United attacks in motion with progressive passing. Withdrawn after 80 minutes.

- Andrey Santos - C

Provided energy in the midfield, and while he didn't set the world alight, Santos was steady enough in the middle.

- Youri Tielemans - D

Played in Mbappe with a nice pass in the 24th minute. Other than that, a pretty quiet game. Neat and tidy on the ball, but wasn't on it enough to make an impact. Came off in the 65th minute.

- Carlos Baleba - C

Should have done better with a headed chance in the 24th minute, heading straight at Oblak. Baleba was busy at times and not afraid to get stuck in, but he didn't want the ball enough in the midfield, where United needed to do a better job of playing through. That's likely why he was replaced by Mount. Baleba was withdrawn after 65 minutes.

- Bruno Fernandes - D

Not very impactful in the first half. Rallied in the last half hour, starting with a cheeky effort from a short corner that saw him hit the bar. Simply not involved enough for the quality of player he is, and he was withdrawn after 80 minutes.

- Marcus Rashford - D

Great run around 14 minutes in and shot have done better to get a good connection on the shot. But in general, try something different, man! How often do we have to see him face up his man and try some basic side-step? It's not going to cut it at this level. You're going to have to produce something elite to beat a man at this level, and it doesn't look as though he has that elite factor in his locker. Rashford was withdrawn after 65 minutes, without being alarmingly poor, but without offering much at all.

- Bryan Mbeumo - C

Came close to scoring an equaliser around the 10-minute mark after a very good run but was denied by last-minute block. Denied by Oblak after another great piece of play in the 24th minute. Mbeumo looked like the only player with any real quality in the first half, but his passing became sloppy in the second half and he became ineffective. He moved out to the right when Zirkzee came on, but struggled to get into it.

- Joshua Zirkzee (On at 65') - D

Couldn't really get hold of the ball other than a decent couple of minutes immediately after coming on.

- Mason Mount (On at 65') - D

Didn't offer United anything more than what they already had.

- Amad Diallo (On at 65') - C

The more active of the subs, but still little to report.

- Harry Maguire (On at 80') - C

The game had already gone at 2-0 and with 10 men.

- Matheus Cunha (On at 80') - C

Same as above, although he was denied by Oblak with a late chance.

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