Manchester United have travelled to the Spanish capital and are preparing for their second Champions League group-phase tie this evening.
The Red Devils lock horns with Atletico Madrid in an 8pm kick-off in hopes of overseeing a second successive UCL victory.
How the clubs are faring ahead of kick-off
(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
United kicked off their European campaign with a comfortable 4-0 triumph over Azerbaijan outfit Sabah last month, and have had to wait just over a month before continuing their journey in the competition.
Fans are well aware that the fixture will be anything but an easy ride; not only because of how notoriously frustrating Atletico are to play against, but also because they have yet to taste defeat on home soil this season and are on a four-game winning streak heading into the clash.
Michael Carrick is having to make do without some of his most pivotal starters, having confirmed yesterday that Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw had been ruled out.
Carrick asked whether Bruno Fernandes is carrying an injury: "He was carrying something [an injury]. It happens a lot, people don't realise it. I probably played 80% of the games through my career with issues. That's how it is. He is pretty much over it, but right now it's not… pic.twitter.com/DEmXVAExtB
They picked up injuries during the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and were absent from the side’s open training session on Monday morning.
United team news and predicted starting XI
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Benjamin Sesko remains sidelined.
Carrick also said in his pre-match press conference that, at present, he was unable to offer an estimated return timeframe for the Slovenian.
Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui both sustained injuries on international duty, meaning Carrick is without his only two senior left-backs and the option who’d be next in line to deputise (Mazraoui).
As a result, Diogo Dalot is poised to switch flanks and fill in for his sidelined teammates while Leny Yoro occupies the right-back role.
