Barrios strikes inside a minute as Atlético Madrid beat ten-man Manchester United
Pablo Barrios scored almost from kick-off and Ademola Lookman sealed a 2-0 win after Leny Yoro's red card, handing Michael Carrick's side their first defeat of the Champions League campaign.
Atlético Madrid beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday night, with Pablo Barrios scoring inside the first minute and Ademola Lookman adding a second after United had been reduced to ten men.
The defeat was United's first of the league phase, following their 4-0 opening win over Sabah, and it came at the end of an uneven run for Carrick's team.
An early blow
United had barely settled when Barrios finished low past goalkeeper Senne Lammens in the opening minute. Diego Simeone's side, set up in a 4-4-2 with Julián Álvarez and Lee Kang-in in attack, then controlled much of the first half.
Atlético thought they had doubled their lead shortly before half-time, but a goal by Johnny Cardoso in the 44th minute was ruled out after a review by the video assistant referee, reportedly for an earlier handball. United, who started with Matheus Cunha as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1, went in only a goal behind.
Yoro dismissal settles it
Carrick made three changes around the 70-minute mark, introducing Amad Diallo, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee in search of an equaliser. Shortly afterwards the visitors lost defender Leny Yoro, who was sent off following a VAR check on a challenge. Match reports differ slightly on the timing, placing the dismissal between the 74th and 76th minutes.
Atlético made the extra player count in the 79th minute. Lammens saved an effort from Jonathan David, but Lookman reacted first to score from close range and put the result beyond doubt.
Background and significance
Atlético had lost 2-1 at Liverpool on Matchday 1, so this was their first win of the league phase. Both clubs now have three points from two matches. According to VAVEL, Simeone's team had won four games in a row before this match, including a derby victory over Real Madrid.
United's recent domestic form has been mixed. VAVEL noted that they needed a late Cunha equaliser to draw with Fulham and conceded in added time to draw with ten-man Tottenham Hotspur.
Analysis: conceding so early away to one of Europe's most organised defensive teams left United chasing the game from the start. The red card ended any realistic hope of a comeback, and the result is likely to increase scrutiny of Carrick's side, although there is still plenty of the league phase to play.
What happens next
Atlético visit Stuttgart on Tuesday 20 October (21:00 local time, 03:00 SGT on Wednesday 21 October). Manchester United travel to Como on Wednesday 21 October (18:45 local time, 00:45 SGT on Thursday 22 October).
Sources
IANS via DT Next, "Atletico Madrid win 2-0 over Man Utd in Champions League", 14 October 2026: https://www.dtnext.in/news/sports/atletico-madrid-win-2-0-over-man-utd-in-champions-league
VAVEL USA, "Highlights and Goals Atletico de Madrid vs Manchester United (2-0) in 2026-27 UEFA Champions League", 13 October 2026: https://www.vavel.com/en-us/soccer/2026/10/13/1275026-atletico-madrid-vs-manchester-united-live-score-uefa-champions-league.html
UEFA, "2026/27 Champions League: All the league phase fixtures and results" (accessed 15 October 2026): https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a8-2174c9e9019d-f909a77bd77a-1000--2026-27-champions-league-all-the-league-phase-fixtures-a/