dominated, Manchester United snatch the draw against Atlético de Madrid in the round of 16 first leg

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Dominated, overwhelmed, dispersed: this could well sum up the match of the Mancunians against Atlético de Madrid in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, Wednesday, February 23. It is that the Spaniards managed their meeting perfectly, in particular with a good first period, marked by the goal of Joao Felix. But the Mancunians had resources.

On the youth side in particular because it is thanks to Anthony Elanga, 19, that the Red Devils snagged the draw (1-1) at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. The English leave Spain with a positive result before the return match at Old Trafford on March 15.

He had a difficult start to the season. Uncomfortable and rarely established by his coach Diego Simeone, Joao Felix is ​​gaining momentum. The Portuguese striker pulled out all the stops to make this Champions League night a real festival. Like an ode to football.

The only scorer of the evening, he was perhaps even more marked by his defensive efforts and his ability to keep the ball in important moments. Transferred for 120 million euros in 2019 to the Madrid club, the former Porto nugget has often been criticized by supporters for his lack of performance. Well supported by the Red and White’s top scorer this season, Angel Correa, Felix left his mark and his talent on this round of 16 first leg.

If he was so good, it’s also because the Portuguese was helped by those who make the game behind him. Starting with Renan Lodi, faithful servant on his goal. The left-back of the Colchoneros feasted with precision on several centers. Comfortable against a Victor Lindelöf not at his post, the Brazilian strolled on his side, without being too worried.

On the French-speaking side, if we expected more the exploits of Paul Pogba or Antoine Griezmann, who entered in the 75th minute, it was Geoffrey Kondogbia who stood out. In charge of the midfield throughout the match, the Central African international marked by his power, his mobility and his ability to muzzle his opponents – and in particular Pogba – for 90 minutes.

Opposite, Manchester United delivered, for a good part of the match, a clumsy copy in front of the cages: five shots, none on target until the 80th minute. It took a 19-year-old Swedish nugget for things to change. Anthony Elanga, son of Joseph, former Cameroonian international at the end of the last century, scored the saving goal for his team. For his first ball hit, the native of Malmö was perfectly served in his race to adjust Jan Oblak with a flat foot.

Another Red Devils hero trained at the club, a few years after Marcus Rashford in particular. It also means that with this flat foot of a pure finisher, Elanga is in a way the tree that hides the forest. With daring tactical choices by Ralf Rangnick, like right-back Victor Lindelöf, the English did not shine on the lawn of the Wanda Metropolitano. However, the Mancunians are doing well and have an impressive statistic with this goal from the Swede by becoming the fifth club to score 500 goals in the history of the C1.


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