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Venue: Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid
Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026, 20:00 BST
Manchester United's wait for a win in all competitions stretches to four matches when they travel to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday, needing a response away to an Atletico Madrid side who have won four in a row since their own opening-night defeat.
Michael Carrick's side were booed off at Old Trafford after a 1-1 draw with ten-man Tottenham in their last outing, and they arrive in Spain with six first-team players already ruled out through injury, headlined by Noussair Mazraoui and Benjamin Sesko both being added to the absentee list in the past few days.
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United form and preview
United have not won since putting four goals past Sabah on matchday one, a barren run that has brought a derby defeat at Manchester City, a Carabao Cup exit to Brighton and back-to-back Premier League draws against Fulham and Tottenham.
The most recent of those, a 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Old Trafford, summed up the problem. United led for long periods against ten men following a Spurs dismissal, only for Dominic Solanke to equalise in the 92nd minute.
Carrick's injury list has grown rather than shrunk since that result, with Noussair Mazraoui and Benjamin Sesko both added to a group that already included Tom Heaton, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte.
Bruno Fernandes remains United's most reliable outlet regardless, having scored and created four chances in the opening win over Sabah, output he will need to repeat against a defence that has rediscovered its form.
Atletico's response to a damaging start has been the opposite. Diego Simeone's side lost 2-1 at Liverpool on matchday one but have won every match since, home and away, across the build-up weeks in La Liga.
Wins over Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Real Madrid preceded the international break, and the run continued on its return with a 2-1 win at Alaves in which Cristian Romero scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute.
That victory took Atletico to second in La Liga, with the weekend round still incomplete, and it arrived with Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth both back available after missing time to injury in late September.
Marcos Llorente offers the clearest individual thread through Atletico's season so far. He scored their only goal in the loss to Liverpool and will again look to break forward from midfield against a United side still searching for defensive balance.
Team news: Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
Atletico Madrid
Atletico have the healthier squad of the two by some distance, with no injury or fitness concerns and no player suspended.
Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth have both returned from the knocks that kept them out in late September and are available for selection, giving Simeone a full forward line to choose from.
Alejandro Grimaldo's output from left-back, three goals and an assist already this season, makes him close to undroppable, while Llorente's goal at Anfield and Cristian Romero's winner at Alaves give Simeone two in-form attacking outlets from deep.
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup vs Manchester United
Predicted Atletico Madrid lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Pubill, Romero, Hancko, Grimaldo; Simeone, Cardoso, Llorente, Baena; Alvarez, Lee Kang-in.
Manchester United
United's absentee list has swelled to six players this week. Heaton, de Ligt, Dorgu and Ugarte were already sidelined before Mazraoui and Sesko were added in the past few days, leaving Carrick short of options at both full-back and centre-forward.
Mainoo is a doubt of his own, and backup goalkeeper Darlow is a further knock concern, meaning Carrick could be missing the bulk of his first-choice squad by kickoff.
With Sesko out, Carrick has shifted Bryan Mbeumo into a central striker's role, with Amad Diallo brought in alongside Matheus Cunha to support Bruno Fernandes through the middle.
Luke Shaw is also carrying a knock but is expected to be fit enough to start at left-back alongside Diogo Dalot, with Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba the double pivot shielding a back four missing two first-choice members.
Manchester United predicted lineup vs Atletico Madrid
Predicted Manchester United lineup (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Baleba; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.
Head-to-head: Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
Atletico and United have met six times in all competitions, with Atletico winning three, United winning once and two draws, the Spanish side holding an 8-4 aggregate scoring advantage.
Their only competitive meetings in recent years came in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2021-22, when Atletico drew 1-1 at home before winning 1-0 at Old Trafford to progress.
The sides' other two meetings were pre-season friendlies, the most recent of which, in Stockholm this August, went to United 2-1.
That history carries little weight here. Both squads have been substantially remade since the last competitive meeting more than four years ago, and this fixture will be decided by current form rather than past results.
Our Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United prediction and tips
Odds correct as of Monday, 12 October 2026, 09:00 BST.
- Julian Alvarez or Lee Kang-in to open the scoring for Atletico
- Bruno Fernandes remains United's likeliest source of a goal
- Marcos Llorente or Cristian Romero to add a second for the hosts
Anyone keen to back either side should compare top football betting sites before placing a wager, while those after a wider spread of markets can browse our betting tips from our team. For newer options entirely, our rundown of the best UK new betting sites is worth a look, and anyone considering William Hill for this one can read our full William Hill sportsbook review or check their William Hill sign up promo code first.
Ellis has been working as a freelance sports writer since graduating from University in 2023. He is especially passionate about football, with a particular love for Manchester United.