Manchester United struggled to relieve pressure on interim manager Michael Carrick, falling 2-0 to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League after Leny Yoro received a controversial second-half red card.
The Red Devils, now without a win in their last five matches across all competitions, conceded after just 47 seconds when Atlético played a long ball over the top; Alex Baena found Pablo Barrios, who scored to give Carrick a nightmare start in the Spanish capital.
Substitute Ademola Lookman added Atlético’s second goal late in the second half, striking just five minutes after Yoro was shown a straight red following an on‑field review by referee Glenn Nyberg.
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Clinton Morrison provides the latest update from Manchester United’s ‘nightmare start’ against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
The French international was judged to have denied Atlético’s Jonathan David a clear goal‑scoring chance after a clash just inside United’s half. Clinton Morrison remarked on Soccer Special, “It’s soft! No way that should be a red.”
The referee had earlier disallowed Johnny Cardoso’s goal for Atletico just before half-time that would have doubled their lead, with Marcos Llorente judged to have handled the ball when his arm was in an unnatural position in the build up.
Although United were the inferior side, they created several chances to level the score, including a deflected effort from Bryan Mbeumo that narrowly missed the target and a strike from captain Bruno Fernandes that hit the crossbar after he failed to convert a promising break.
United, still on three points in the Champions League league phase, have no grounds to complain about the loss in Madrid following another disjointed performance, which intensifies scrutiny on the head coach ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Leeds, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Man Utd’s next fixtures…
Leeds (A) – Premier League – Sunday October 18, live on Sky Sports
Como (A) – Champions League – Wednesday October 21
Bournemouth (H) – Premier League – Sunday October 25, live on Sky Sports
Chelsea (A) – Premier League – Saturday October 31
Roma (H) – Champions League – Tuesday November 3
Aston Villa (H) – Premier League – Sunday November 8, live on Sky Sports
