Manchester United lose 2-0 to Atlético Madrid, extend winless run to five

Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on October 13, 2026, extending their winless streak to five matches. Pablo Barrios opened the scoring after just 47 seconds, exploiting a defensive error when a simple ball over the top from Lee Kang-in's pass found Álex Baena, who laid across for Barrios to finish. Ademola Lookman sealed the victory late in the match, shortly after defender Leny Yoro was sent off following an on-field review by referee Glenn Nyberg in the 75th minute.

Yoro's dismissal proved controversial. The French centre-back was deemed to have denied Atlético's Jonathan David a goalscoring opportunity following a coming together in United's half. Manager Michael Carrick disputed the decision in his post-match comments, stating: "I don't think it was a red. I don't agree with that decision, he wasn't going at speed and it's a very soft push." He added that the sending-off "had a great impact" on the match. The result leaves United with only three points from their Champions League campaign so far.

United created several opportunities to equalise at 1-0, with Bryan Mbeumo sending a deflected shot narrowly wide and captain Bruno Fernandes striking the bar after a clear opening. However, Atlético dominated possession—enjoying 66 percent by half-time—and controlled the game throughout. United's defensive vulnerabilities remained evident; they have kept a clean sheet in only two of their last 12 matches across all competitions and arrived in Madrid having suffered their worst Premier League start in 40 years with just one win in their opening six league games.

Post-match, defender Lisandro Martínez called out the club's hierarchy, telling Amazon Prime: "This is not a Champions League-quality squad" and stating the team needed more investment in the summer transfer window. Carrick acknowledged the emotional reaction but suggested it was not the moment to address recruitment matters, emphasising the need to focus on the upcoming fixture against Leeds United on Sunday.