This time, the executioner of Atletico is not called Ronaldo: the Madrilenians, unleashed from the start, opened the scoring in the 7th minute thanks to a diving header in the returning post marked by Joao Felix before dominating the entire match, but were joined in the 80th on a goal from young Swede Anthony Elanga.

The joy of Atlético Madrid's Portuguese striker, Joao Felix, after opening the scoring at home against Manchester United, in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, on February 23, 2022 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium JAVIER SORIANO AFP

A belated but welcome greeting for Mancunians amorphous throughout the match, but who saw their hopes reborn after this missed tackle by Reinildo who offered a boulevard to the 19-year-old striker, who emerged victorious from his duel against Jan Oblak.

Manchester United's Swedish striker Anthony Elanga equalizes (1-1) against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on February 23, 2022 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium OSCAR DEL POZO AFP

Despite this lucky draw, Ronaldo and the Red Devils cannot be satisfied with the content offered Wednesday evening in Madrid, and will quickly have to climb the slope to try to snatch their ticket for the quarterfinals on March 15 at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo booed, and lonely

In a boiling Wanda-Metropolitano stadium, which blithely whistled every long possession of the Mancunians, booed every touch of the ball from its former tormentor Ronaldo and cheered to the rhythm of Diego Simeone's frenzies, the Mancunians were completely frozen.

Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo battles with Atlético Madrid's Montenegrin defender Stefan Savic in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on February 23, 2022 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium JAVIER SORIANO AFP

Ralf Rangnick's men, unrecognizable, did not offer a single action in the opposing area in the first period.

An apathy that Manchester United had not known since the 2005-2006 season in C1, according to statistician Opta.

The Mancunian midfielder sank in the face of the excess of envy and energy of the rivals.

Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, for example, stood out for their number of technical errors.

And behind, Raphaël Varane was jostled by the speed and the quality of the controls of Renan Lodi, Angel Correa and the Portuguese jewel Joao Felix, who stole the show from his illustrious compatriot on Wednesday evening.

Atlético Madrid's French midfielder, Geoffrey Kondogbia, in the fight with his Manchester United counterpart, Paul Pogba, during the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, on February 23, 2022 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium OSCAR DEL POZO AFP

Atléti, starved to death

Because the people of Madrid started the match as if we were already playing the 85th minute: aggressive in their pressing and projecting themselves quickly forward on recovery.

A paying state of mind, with the opening of the scoring of the 22-year-old Portuguese prodigy in the 7th minute.

A very nice goal that caused a blown Simeone to wave his fingers up and down for the second time in the space of a few days, like after Luis Suarez's 40-yard La Liga goal on Saturday.

And the Colchoneros could even have made the score worse just before the break: in the 45th, after a free kick combination between Hector Herrera and Renan Lodi on the right side, the Brazilian sent a cross to the far post, but his header was pricked from Sime Vrsaljko was hit by Victor Lindelöf before hitting the crossbar.

At the end of the match, it was Antoine Griezmann who also found the bar (87th).

Atlético Madrid's French striker Antoine Griezmann after a missed opportunity against Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on February 23, 2022 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium JAVIER SORIANO AFP

In the 79th, Ronaldo, who carried the Mancunians on his shoulders throughout the C1 group stage with 6 goals in 5 matches, had a rare opportunity to equalize with a free kick at the entrance to the opposing area. .. but his attempt had flown away in the spans of the Metropolitano stadium.

Result: a draw, certainly, but a timely draw for Rangninck, who will have to find the formula to move the frenetic rojiblanco block in the second leg... or risk causing Manchester to go off the road prematurely, and yet another disappointment this season , after the Cup and the championship.

© 2022 AFP