CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW - ATLETICO MADRID VS MANCHESTER UNITED

Champions League

2026-10-13 - Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Atletico Madrid v Manchester United
Football: UEFA Champions League Match Day 2
Tuesday 13th October 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

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Atletico Madrid

The summer transfer window created a lot of drama around Atletico Madrid as they looked to keep Julian Alvarez away from the clutches of rivals Barcelona. Diego Simeone will be very pleased with the way the rest of the squad have handled the situation after Atletico Madrid's strong start to the domestic campaign, but they need to bounce back from a Match Day 1 defeat in the Champions League.

That defeat came at Anfield last month, but Atletico Madrid reached the Champions League Semi Final last season and will remain very confident in their abilities in 2026/27. They were only narrowly beaten by Arsenal in that Semi Final, while Atletico Madrid have always been tougher at home where they have won 8 of the last 11 Champions League games played.

Atletico Madrid have won all 4 games played in all competitions since losing to Liverpool in the Champions League and they have scored at least twice in each win. The side are unbeaten in 5 home games in all competitions and Atletico Madrid have scored at least twice in all 4 played at the Metropolitano this season.

A full squad is available for Diego Simeone ahead of this fixture.

Manchester United

The way the late goal was conceded on Saturday to allow Tottenham Hotspur to escape with a point would have hurt, but not many could argue that Manchester United deserved more than what they got. The pressure is beginning to intensify on Michael Carrick with the crowd voicing their discontent on Saturday and Manchester United have three very awkward looking away games coming up.

It begins in the Spanish capital on Tuesday before trips to Leeds United and Como and Manchester United need a reaction to recent setbacks in the Premier League. They have begun their return to the Champions League with a comfortable win against an overmatched Sabah, but this is a much stiffer examination of this squad. The side were unbeaten in 7 away Europa League games played two seasons ago, but Manchester United have not won any of the last 5 away Champions League games played.

Manchester United have won 1 of the last 6 games in all competitions and none of the last 4 since beating Sabah on Match Day 1. Going back to last season, Manchester United have won 1 of the last 5 games played on their travels.

Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are doubts having picked up knocks on Saturday and that could mean a full debut for Carlos Baleba. Benjamin Sesko is out and Michael Carrick may choose to rotate some of the starters with the likes of Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford ready to step in.

Head to Head

Atletico Madrid and Manchester United have met four times and the Spanish club remain unbeaten.

In the 2021/22 season, Atletico Madrid beat Manchester United 2-1 on aggregate in the Champions League Last 16.

The game here in this Stadium finished 1-1 that season, while Atletico Madrid beat Manchester United 3-0 in the old ground in the 1991/92 Cup Winners' Cup.

Prediction

You have to believe that Manchester United's name is perhaps influencing the prices for this fixture, because it feels like Atletico Madrid should be a shorter price than what has been dangled out there.

While Manchester United were missing out on European Football, Atletico Madrid were reaching the Champions League Semi Final a few months ago. They were only narrowly beaten by Arsenal, while Atletico Madrid thumped Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 here in a Knock Out tie.

Once again they are facing an English opponent struggling for domestic form and Atletico Madrid cannot feel much better about themselves having won 4 in a row in all competitions.

Atletico Madrid are creating a lot of chances and scoring plenty of goals and they will have been enthused by the recent Manchester United performances.

Since beating Sabah, Manchester United have lost 2 games at Old Trafford to Brighton and Manchester City and followed up with draws against lowly Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. The performances in those matches are really worrying and Manchester United have had problems at both ends of the pitch, which can be exploited by a team like Atletico Madrid.

As a fan it is not going to be a result that can be backed.

However, for those looking for a decent priced home win, Atletico Madrid do look capable of hurting Manchester United in this fixture and ultimately bouncing back from a Match Day 1 defeat at Anfield.

The Pick :

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Manchester United

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll suggest Atletico Madrid to Win at 1.91 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)