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Atletico Madrid will host Manchester United at the Wanda Metropolitano tonight (23 February) in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Manchester United finished top of Group F to progress to the knockout stages. After conceding a 2-1 defeat to Young Boys in their first Champions League game of the season, the Red Devils have remained unbeaten in the competition.
They have produced some sublime second-half performances and Cristiano Ronaldo has been a leading light for the Red Devils in Europe's elite competition. He has scored six goals in five appearances in the competitions so far.
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The amount of criticism that Manchester United have received over the last few weeks would suggest that they're in some sort of chaos.
But the discourse around the Old Trafford outfit has always been hyperbolic. Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has more or less steadied the ship since taking over in late November. He has won eight, drawn seven and lost just one of his 16 matches since taking charge of the club.
Atletico Madrid are presently fifth in La Liga and have the joint-eighth-worst defensive record in the league. They also lost three of their Champions League group stage and barely scraped through to the knockout stages.
Suffice to say, Manchester United are in much better shape heading into the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie than their opponents Atletico Madrid.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five reasons why Manchester United will win against Atletico Madrid tonight.
#5 Manchester United squad is almost back to full-strength
Edinson Cavani continues to be sidelined with a groin problem. The Uruguayan international has not featured since the 1-1 draw against Burnley on 8 February at Turf Moor. Eric Bailly is the only other player who's injured for Manchester United. The Ivory Coast international is still recovering from an ankle injury.
Neither Cavani nor Bailly would have started the game even if they were fully fit. Ralf Rangnick has a near full-strength squad to choose from. Marcus Rashford hasn't been at his best this season and the German coach had chosen to start Jesse Lingard against Leeds this past weekend.
Rashford is well-rested since it was Anthony Elanga who came off the bench to replace Lingard. Rangnick has a raft of options in midfield and in attack and that could be a major advantage for the Red Devils.
#4 Atletico Madrid are without a few key players
Atletico Madrid head into the game on Wednesday night without some of their key players. Koke is perhaps the most important of Atletico Madrid's players to have picked up an injury right before the game.
Yannick Carrasco and Felipe are suspended for the game. Forward Matheus Cunha and the versatile Daniel Wass are both sidelined with knee injuries.
Thomas Lemar and Mario Hermoso are on their way back after a bout of Covid-19 but Wednesday could come too early for the duo. As a result, Diego Simeone is a little hard pressed for top quality personnel to be deployed against the visitors from Manchester.
#3 Manchester United are on a much better run than Atletico Madrid
Manchester United picked up back-to-back wins in their latest Premier League outings. They beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 before thumping rivals Leeds United 4-2 away from home this past weekend.
The Red Devils are in fact unbeaten in normal time in their last nine matches across all competitions. That is a run that stretches all the way back to January 11. Ralf Rangnick has definitely helped make this Manchester United side less leaky.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are navigating one of their worst seasons in recent times. They have lost four of their last seven matches across all competitions. Jan Oblak has been uncharacteristically poor between the sticks and the Atletico Madrid defence has looked out of sorts as well.
#2 Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba's form
Paul Pogba has improved this Manchester United side massively since returning from a hamstring injury. They had missed his creativity, ball-retention and playmaking abilities in the center of the park. Since making his comeback in early February after a three-month layoff, the Frenchman has showcased his full range of tricks.
Jadon Sancho has hit his stride at Manchester United and has been their best attacker in recent weeks. The 21-year-old picked up two assists as Manchester United beat Leeds United 4-2 at Elland Road on Sunday.
Sancho's direct running, ability to beat defenders and make mature decisions in the final third has added a new dimension to the United attack. Bruno Fernandes continues to be a talismanic presence in and around the final third for Manchester United.
The Portuguese international turned in match-winning performances against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United. He scored a goal each in both games.
With Pogba and Sancho sharing the load of creativity, Fernandes has the freedom to get into areas where he can affect the game more directly. That's something Diego Simeone will desperately need to take care of.
#1 The Cristiano Ronaldo factor
Manchester United's trump card heading into the game is Cristiano Ronaldo. 'Mr. Champions League' has worked his magic in Europe this season and is the Red Devils' top scorer in the competition. He has six goals in five appearances in the competition.
Nearly all of those goals came at extremely crucial junctures and it is a testament to Ronaldo's ability to come clutch when his team needs him the most. The Portuguese international is also up against familiar foes here in Atletico Madrid.
In 35 appearances against Atletico Madrid across all competitions in his career, Ronaldo has scored 25 goals and provided nine assists. He enjoys playing against them and with so many in-form players around him, he should be able to produce a great performance here.
