Atleti piles more misery on Manchester United
Atletico Madrid earned its first win in the Champions League this season after brush=ing aside 10-man Manchester United 2-0.
The Metropolitano had something to cheer about in the first minute as Pablo Barrios broke the deadlock within 47 seconds, while Johnny Cardoso had a second goal disallowed before the break.
Though United tried to push for an equaliser, Leny Yoro's sending-off made it an uphill battle, and Ademola Lookman duly punished Michael Carrick's struggling side.
Atleti made a dream start as it cut open United's defence with minimum fuss and Alex Baena squared it to Barrios. His low shot sneaked in after a deflection off Ayden Heaven, with Senne Lammens unable to scramble back and keep it out.
Bryan Mbeumo had United's two best chances of the first half. His low drive was blocked, while Jan Oblak covered his near post well to smother his next tight-angled effort.
Atleti soon turned up the pressure again, though, as Alejandro Grimaldo curled a free-kick from 20 yards out against the corner of the goal frame.
On the stroke of half-time, Cardoso thought he had doubled Atletico's lead by sweeping in Barrios' lay-off, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review as Marcos Llorente handled the ball as he bundled it past Heaven in the build-up.
The woodwork denied Atletico again in the 54th minute as Julian Alvarez volleyed past a helpless Lammens against the post, while Bruno Fernandes fired wide and curled a looping effort off the top of the crossbar at the other end.
But United was given a mountain to climb in the 74th minute; Jonathan David was originally penalised for handling the ball before teeing up Lookman for a saved one-on-one shot, but Yoro was sent off after a VAR review for denying the Canadian a goalscoring opportunity moments before.
It took Atleti just five minutes to use its numerical advantage. Grimaldo surged forward and picked out David, who was denied by Lammens, but Lookman reacted quickest to turn in the rebound.
United almost got a late consolation through Matheus Cunha after a poor clearance, but after Joshua Zirkzee teed him up, Oblak denied the former Atletico man with an outstretched leg.
