Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Second half substitute Joao Felix fired home the only goal of the game to give Atletico Madrid a club friendly win over Manchester United on a hot Saturday afternoon in Oslo.
Los Rojiblancos put United out of the 2021/22 Champions League in the Round of 16 and they spoiled United’s almost perfect pre-season with a typical Diego Simeone 1-0 win.
The Red Devils had enjoyed a successful run of pre-season results in the run-up to this clash, Friendly: Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid, which was the biggest test of Erik Ten Hag’s side so far. The match in Norway was a friendly in name only as tackles flew in from both sides and here was a bust up just before the break when Scott McTominay clattered into Jan Oblak and the Atleti players steamed in to defend their stopper.
15 of 16 players gathered in a push and shove which, in a competitive game, would normally warrant a flurry of cards but the referee was circumspect.
The half time card count hit 3-2 in favour of Atleti though!
United midfielder Fred could easily have been sent off with a late foul, but Felix stole the show with his brilliant strike.
Eriksen makes his case
Summer signing Christian Eriksen made an appearance midway through the second half and he showed more quality on the ball in his first few touches than we’d seen in the preceding hour. His wand of a right foot put two crosses on a plate, both of which should have been converted. First he fired a brilliant ball in from deep which Marcus Rashford failed to connect with; and, moments later, his corner landed right on the head of Harry Maguire, but the centre half planted his effort wide with half the goal at his mercy.
With the Premier League season fast approaching this was a perfect opportunity for Ten Hag to fine tune his team while he continues to work hard in the transfer market. The head coach is getting closer to his line-up but surely Eriksen must start in their Premier League opener against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Antony Martial has been United’s best attacking player in pre-season, with three goals and an assist, and he had the best chance of the first half, bursting into the Atleti penalty area but, with a one-on-one with the keeper and everyone in the ground expecting the net to bulge, the French striker smashed his shot over the bar.
Antony Elanga showed some clever touches and smart movement and he may warrant a start in support of the attack, possibly alongside Marcus Rashford, though he may have to make way for Eriksen.
Ten Hag started with Victor Lindelof and Maguire at the back and it was Lindelof who did well to block a shot from Matheus Cunha early in the second half. His consistency is crucial alongside Maguire who is trying to repair his reputation after a poor campaign last term. In midfield, Fred continues to impress and Scott McTominay also made his case with a battling performance, while Bruno Fernandes is sure to start against the Seagulls.
Manchester United talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has said he’s ready to play for United again and he may feature in the Sunday clash with Rayo Vallecano and that might shake things up a little. CR7 has been angling for a move and it’s a story we’ll continue to watch here at SBOTOP as the season kicks off in just a week’s time.
Joao can spark Atleti
The in form Angel Correa started the game for Los Rojiblancosin a two man attack alongsideMatheus Cunha but they had little service in the first half as Atleti managed just three shots and none on target. On the hour Diego Simeone changed nine of his outfield players and the strikers made way for Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann, with Koke and Rodrigo de Paul moving in to midfield just behind the front two.
Felix immediately had an impact with a tricky run down the left and he’ll make plenty of La Liga 2022 highlights in the coming season, due to start in two weeks. And just five minutes after his arrival he almost created the opener, sending a perfect cross into the danger zone, but with the goal gaping Saul Niguez blasted the ball into row Z.
And then, with the clock running down, Felix cut in onto his right foot and fired low past David de Gea into the bottom left corner.
Atleti fans may have to temper their expectations for the 2022/23 campaign but Felix could spark a title challenge.
For United, the pre-season Premier League 2022 betting odds back Ten Hag’s team for a decent top four challenge and they showed enough in Oslo to suggest they can win Champions League football again.
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