Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Predictions

• Manchester United have seen both teams score in 12 of their 16 away games this season.
• Atletico Madrid have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight games, conceding 16 goals in total.
• Three of Manchester United’s last five games have been 1-1 after 90 minutes.
• Cristiano Ronaldo scored in five of Manchester United’s six Champions League group games this season.

Atletico struggle for form

Atletico Madrid managed to bounce back from their latest defeat when they visited Osasuna at the weekend but Diego Simeone’s side aren’t exactly at the peak of their powers right now and their porous defence could come under fire again on Wednesday.

Los Colchoneros scraped through the Champions League Group Stage with seven points from six games and that patchy form hasn’t improved much since. They sit fifth in the La Liga standings and have only won three of their last eight competitive games, conceding an uncharacteristic 16 goals in this period and keeping just one clean sheet.

Red Devils remain fragile at the back

Fortunately for Simeone, Manchester United are not the force they once were and every attack has a chance against the Red Devils’ equally fragile back line.

The visitors played their part in a fantastically entertaining 4-2 win at Elland Road on Sunday to make it back-to-back wins, but they have only managed two clean sheets in their last eight games and both of those came at Old Trafford.

Away from home they have conceded in each of their last five, although it is worth noting they have found the net in every competitive away game since April 2021.

Back goals at both ends in Madrid

Unsurprisingly, I’m expecting both team to find the net at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. Both teams to score has landed in 12 of Manchester United’s 16 away games this season and with Atletico Madrid’s defence struggling I fancy them to make it 13 in 17.

A score draw looks the most likely outcome for this first leg, too. Three of Manchester United’s last five games have been 1-1 after 90 minutes and this includes two of their last three away games, so that’s my correct score prediction.

If you fancy a dive into the anytime goalscorer market, Cristiano Ronaldo looks a good price despite his recent downturn in goals. The Portugal legend ended his goal drought against Brighton last weekend and tends to thrive in the Champions League. He scored in five of Manchester United’s six group games and is the all-time leading goalscorer in the competition with an incredible 140 goals in 181 appearances.