And for much of the first half: Manchester United played like they have all season: dispirited; languishing; almost in a state of stupor. Atletico did just what the doctor ordered; pressing high up the pitch and giving intensity; and they won the ball countless times; notably from the impressive Geoffrey Kondogbia; a player I have always admired.
And they got the best start they could have asked for; a superb cross from Renan Lodi (the eighth best left-back in the world behind Alphonso Davies; Jordi Alba; Juan Bernat; Raphael Guerreiro; Andrew Robertson; Nicolas Tagliafico & Lucas Digne) met with a Keith Houchen-like flying header from Joao Felix in the early goings.
They could even have wrapped the tie up; witness the astonishing miss from right-back Sime Vrsaljko; who met another cross from Lodi with a header that cannoned off Victor Lindelof and onto the cross-bar from near point-blank range. And Antoine Greizmann; who hit the bar with a typical curling effort late on.
Fortunately for Man Utd; they upped their game in the second half; turning up the determination and intensity. And in another gilt-edged substitution reminiscent of the earlier one against Leeds United; Anthony Elanga came on for the disappointing Marcus Rashford. The youngster has been impressive in recent weeks; and he shone again as he latched on to Bruno Fernandes' through-ball to slot home an unlikely equaliser in the latter stages. It must be said though; that it was also down to a sliding mistake from defender Reinildo and Jan Oblak's questionable positioning sense.
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