Pablo Barrios scored inside the opening minute and substitute Ademola Lookman sealed a 2-0 win as Atlético Madrid beat 10-man Manchester United in Champions League Matchday 2 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Leny Yoro was sent off after a VAR review in the 74th minute, and Diego Simeone's side claimed their first points of the league phase.
Match facts
- Result: Atlético Madrid 2-0 Manchester United (half-time 1-0)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 2
- Venue: Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid
- Scorers: Atlético Madrid - Barrios 1', Lookman 79'; Manchester United - None
- Assists: Álex Baena (1')
- Red cards: Leny Yoro (Manchester United) 74'
- Next: VfB Stuttgart v Atlético Madrid, Tuesday 20 October; Como v Manchester United, Wednesday 21 October
How the match unfolded
Kick-off was barely under way when Atlético struck. Álex Baena worked the ball in the box and found Barrios unmarked; the midfielder's shot came off Ayden Heaven and wrong-footed Senne Lammens, who was caught cold as the ball rolled in. It was the second-fastest Champions League goal in Atlético's history.
United settled and created openings. Bryan Mbeumo was left rueing a miss, while Jan Oblak denied the visitors when they threatened. Alejandro Grimaldo then curled a free-kick against the post in the 26th minute as Atlético kept pressing.
Just before the break Johnny Cardoso thought he had made it 2-0 from the edge of the box, but referee Glenn Nyberg disallowed the goal after a VAR check for a handball earlier in the move. Half-time arrived with Atlético 1-0 up.
After the restart Barrios slipped in Julián Álvarez, whose first-time effort hit the post. Marcus Rashford was booked, and Michael Carrick turned to the bench with Amad Diallo, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee among the changes. Simeone responded by introducing Jonathan David and Marc Pubill, then Lookman and Morten Hjulmand for Baena and Álvarez.
The decisive swing came in the 74th minute. Yoro's challenge on David was reviewed by VAR, and Nyberg showed a straight red card. With United down to 10, Atlético attacked with pace. David's shot was pushed away by Lammens, and Lookman swept in the rebound in the 79th minute for 2-0.
Carrick sent on Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha, but Oblak still had work to do, saving from Cunha deep in stoppage time as United pushed without reward.
What the result means
Atlético climb the league-phase table with three points after losing their opener, and the win follows their late La Liga victory at Alavés. United drop points after Matchday 1 and have two wins from nine matches in all competitions this season; the red for Yoro compounds a difficult night after their 1-1 draw with Tottenham, which also featured a red card.
Gordon's early Barcelona scoring form is covered in BetAlert's report on their 3-0 win over Getafe.
What comes next
Atlético travel to Stuttgart in the Champions League on Tuesday 20 October. United visit Como on Wednesday 21 October. For free, factual checks on clubs and accounts that claim special access, see BetAlert's scammer database — account checks remain free.