Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United live score and result updates: Champions League latest as Elanga scores late equaliser (2024)

Manchester United salvaged a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano despite being second best for large parts.

The Red Devils will certainly be counting themselves lucky after Anthony Elanga once again made a telling difference from the bench.

He netted an 80th-minute equaliser for the visitors after Joao Felix had given Atletico a deserved lead inside seven minutes.

The young Portuguese forward got his side off to the perfect start after heading Renan Lodi’s perfect cross beyond David de Gea, but they were unable to build on the early lead.

It was a game typical of what we have come to expect of a team managed by Diego Simeone in the Champions League with yellow cards being dished out to nine players but they were made to pay for their lack of a cutting edge.

The sucker punch for the Rojiblancos came with just 10 minutes left on the clock as substitute Elanga raced onto Bruno Fernandes’ through ball and rolled an effort past Jan Oblak and into the back of the net.

Rangnick might be slightly worried about his side’s performance but the result will be more than satisfactory.

United will be confident of securing passage to the quarter final in the second leg at Old Trafford but they will be wary of the threat Atletico’s will pose in three weeks’ time.

Background reading

• Aggression and unity helps United's leaders stand up to the storm
• David de Gea's complicated relationship with Atletico Madrid
• Joao Felix: 'My game in my words'

(Photo: Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)

The performance by the visiting players at the Wanda Metropolitano isn't one that will live long in the memories of Manchester United supporters but it was ultimately a good night's work thanks to Elanga's late equaliser.

That's all from me on the live blog after bringing you reaction from both the young forward and a relieved Ralf Rangnick. As ever, I have thoroughly enjoyed bringing you all the updates from the game in Madrid and hope to do it again when the teams meet at Old Trafford in a few weeks.

(Photo: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

On another evening and against another Champions League opponent, United could have been all-but out of the competition after an hour of the game against Atletico.

But, somehow, they were able to secure a hugely important draw, a result which looked extremely unlikely at half time. Speaking after the game, Rangnick revealed his frustration at what he saw from his players in the first half.

"After the performance in the first half, it could only get better," he told BT Sport. "I still cannot believe what we did in the first half, we played without conviction, without aggression against the ball and that's why we were really struggling.

"Second half, we were better, we had more possession in areas that mattered and if we'd played for another 10 minutes, we might have even won the game. Again, we just have to play better in the first half, I was very disappointed with our performance in the first half."

What a night it was for the youngster. A first European goal with his first touch in his first Champions League knock-out game with his side firmly on the ropes. Unsurprisingly, he could hardly hide his smile speaking to BT Sport's Des Kelly after the match.

He said: "I think it was my first touch! I've dreamt of moments like this, scoring in the Champions League on a big occasion like this against a top European team like Atletico Madrid, it's a dream come true. It's only the first half, the first half has gone now and the second half is at Old Trafford in a couple of weeks so we've got to be ready for that."

Elanga's goal was a huge one for a number of reasons this evening. It secured a vital result for United and was his first in the competition in just his second appearance.

It was also the 500th goal scored by the Red Devils in Europe's marquee club competition, only three teams have managed more.

FT Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United

I didn't think I would be writing this 20 minutes ago but Manchester United have somehow got a result at the Wanda Metropolitano. They struggled to put two passes together all evening but have salvaged a draw against Atletico.

Rangnick, once again, changed the game with his substitutions and Elanga proved the difference from the bench for the second game in a row. Simeone will be fuming that his team were unable to make their pressure tell while his counterpart will take that result every day of the week.

90+3' Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United

After hardly competing for well over an hour, the away side are finishing this match the stronger of the two teams.

Simeone is demanding that his players calm down and rightly so, they are at risk of heading to Old Trafford needing to overturn a one-goal deficit.

87' Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United

Simeone will hardly be able to believe what he has seen tonight. His side have been miles the better team and very nearly restored their one-goal advantage.

After United failed to properly clear yet another Atletico corner, the ball fell to Griezmann who bent an effort around Wan-Bissaka and onto the crossbar, much to de Gea's relief. There would have been a lengthy VAR check had the ball found its intended destination with the Frenchman possibly being stood an inch or two offside.

84' Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United

This will be a huge result for Rangnick's side if they are able to hold on here. Elanga, who seemed to actually scuff his finish, could not have timed his first goal in the Champions League any better.

The travelling supporters have not stopped singing his name since the ball hit the back of the net, they won't believe their luck if United hang onto this scoreline.

(Photo: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

80' Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United

Where has this come from? Manchester United are somehow on level terms and it is through the brilliant 19-year-old who has only been on the pitch for five minutes.

It is by far the visitors' best passage of play of the match and the young Swede slides beyond Oblak, who had taken up an awful position in the Atletico goal, and into the bottom corner.

77' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

The hosts are in total control and United seem happy to be just the single goal behind in the knowledge that they can turn the tie around in a few weeks' time at Old Trafford.

Simeone has made a couple of changes as he looks to strengthen his side's grip on the tie. The two difference-makers so far, Felix and Lodi, have been replaced by Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar.

The steady flow of yellow cards has continued with Fred and Llorente having their names taken in the last few minutes.

66' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

It has become everything we expect of a Champions League game involving Atletico Madrid in the last few minutes with yellow cards being shown to members of both teams.

Lindelof, Reinildo and Rashford are all given bookings in the space of five minutes. Aware that he has three players on yellow cards, Rangnick has made a few changes.

Lindelof and Shaw have been taken off in place of Wan-Bissaka and Alex Telles while Pogba's below-par evening has also been brought to a premature end as he is replaced by Nemanja Matic.

(Photo: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

59' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

Simeone has been as lively as ever down on the touchline this evening.

The Argentine will be more than happy with the effort his players have put in so far but he will be well aware that they could do with another goal to match their dominance.

(Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

50' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

The second half has started how the first half finished with the hosts well on top.

The inefficiency of United's attacking play has been perfectly highlighted by the below statistic from Opta. For a team with such a rich European history, they just haven't looked like a team that belong at this level this evening.

Meanwhile, Luke Shaw has become the first visiting player to have his name taken by the referee.

46' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

We're back underway in Madrid, those away supporters will be desperate to see an improved second-half performance.

Right, as I'm sure Manchester United fans will appreciate, I'm going to briefly move away from the game in Madrid and update on you on what's been happening elsewhere.

There's been something of a goalfest in the other Champions League game as Ajax are 2-1 up away from home against Benfica. After Dusan Tadic opened the scoring, Sebastian Haller made immediate amends for an own goal by putting the Dutch giants back in front.

In the Premier League, there is still 20 minutes left at Turf Moor where Burnley and Tottenham are deadlocked at 0-0 while Crystal Palace are 2-1 up against Watford. On Merseyside, Liverpool look as though they will be closing the gap at the top to just three points as they are comfortably beating Leeds 3-0 after 55 minutes.

HT Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

Well, Rangnick has got some half-time team talk on his hands here. His side have been awful and haven't once tested the Atletico defence.

On a more positive note, they are only a goal behind and have plenty of time to turn it around but Simeone's side will be very confident of extending their lead after the interval.

(Photo: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

44' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

Atletico very nearly doubled their lead and they really should have done.

Lodi delivered another fantastic cross from the left-hand side and Sime Vrsaljko's wayward header deflected off Lindelof and onto the crossbar. Had it not been for Fernandes' vital touch at the front post, the home side would have been two in front.

In other news, Herrera has just been shown the game's first yellow card.

37' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

It has taken Manchester United more than 36 minutes to muster their first real attempt of the game but Ronaldo's effort flies harmlessly wide.

There was a token dive from Oblak but the shot must have been two or three yards wide. Not sure I can blame the Atletico goalkeeper for just making sure it didn't sneak in though!

31' Atletico Madrid 1-0 Manchester United

Rangnick will be incensed with what he has seen, and what he hasn't seen, from his side after half an hour.

Fernandes' expression will be one replicated by every United supporter who has been watching proceedings this evening. They certainly don't look like a team that should be playing in the Champions League last 16.

(Photo: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)