A Draw But Totally Undeserved.

I said it before that I don't know which United side would turn up against Atletico Madrid. Despite the covid and injuries coupled with the loss of form trailing Atletico Madrid, they still managed to cause Manchester United all sorts of problems. Every team seem to play at their best when they play against United even if they have been terrible before then. This is the Champions League and I understand every team would want to be at their best but not Manchester United. They seem to always prepare to be terrible when there is a certain level of excitement they have given in previous games.

It's shocking how a team of this calibre would play so clueless as though they had not been training. This is no disrespect to Atletico Madrid or their home because they played at home but it's a slap for a team to possess this abundance of wealth and still be this terrible. It would be forgiven if Atletico Madrid had lost this game because of the things they had to deal with but they rallied around. They played their hearts out and were unlucky not to have won the game.

It was a terrible first-half showing by United as expected. United has gotten used to playing only one fair half in every game. It's either they play well in the first half and capitulate in the second half or they play terrible in the first half and then rally around in the second half. It was a fair second half for United because Atletico Madrid dominated every aspect of that game and they should have won it.

It's painful to see how they struck the post twice - one in the first half and the other in the second half. They would have extended the lead after João Felix's goal but they struck the crossbar instead. Even after Anthony Elanga came off the bench to equalize for Manchester United, Griezmann was also unlucky to have struck the crossbar in what would have made the scoreline 2-1.

Atletico Madrid did everything to get the win but luck didn't come to their side and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Elanga, ever since losing the final penalty kick against Middlesbrough a few weeks back, I admire his mental strength to keep doing what he knows how to do best. This would have been Greenwood's moment but due to what happened to him, Elanga got the nod ahead of him and he has been repaying the faith of the manager anytime he has been called upon.

This is how Manchester United integrates youth into the team back in the day as it allows them to learn, be patient and also grow while not getting ahead of themselves. It was a well-crafted goal by Elanga but let's talk about that brilliant goal from João Felix. It was a well-worked goal with accuracy and precision. He managed to beat the offside flag and carefully displaced Harry Maguire before powering home his towering header which came off the post into the back of the net as early as the first minute.

Atletico Madrid deserves to win this game and they would feel lucky wasn't on their side in this one. The funny thing is, Manchester United can now win against them at Old Trafford, maybe not, but my point is, if United wins against them at Old Trafford, it would make it even harder on them as they would rue those missed chances. In the entirety of the match, it's shocking that Manchester United only had 2 shots on target and that speaks of Atletico's assertion on the game. United were clueless for the most part of the game.

Ronaldo cuts a frustrating figure as he was bereft of quality service inside the box. Marcus Rashford has been on a terrible form of late and I still don't understand why this coach uses him. It would have been better to have Lingard occupy that role because the only thing Rashford brings to this side is his pace which is useless when a direction is lacking.

Diego Simeone's frustration was evident as he charged through the tunnel because this was a game they could have won but were unlucky not to win. It ended in a draw but it was an undeserved draw from United. I think Ronaldo should learn to give up freekick duties because he has been terrible at it for many seasons now. No disrespect to all the ones he has scored but it's time for him to allow Fernandes to take it on because Manchester United might have a better chance to score from dead-ball situations with Bruno than with Ronaldo.