MY ACCOUNT
Bruno Fernandes started against Atletico Madrid on a big Champions League night for Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese playmaker missed Saturday’s 3-2 win over Tottenham after a positive COVID-19 test.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning hat-trick to snatch the points in that game, and United boss Ralf Rangnick confirmed the reason for Fernandes being absent afterwards.
Rangnick said it would be a race against time for Fernandes to be back for duty in Europe; however, the former Sporting CP man was able to train on Monday.
Fernandes was named in a midfield that also featured Fred, Jadon Sancho and Scott McTominay. The latter returned from an injury that caused him to miss the Spurs game, as Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic dropped to the bench for the visit of Diego Simeone’s side.
Ronaldo and Anthony Elanga, who scored United’s goal in Spain to earn a 1-1 draw, led the attack, with Marcus Rashford only a substitute.
Ronaldo has netted 13 goals in his last 15 home games against Atletico across all competitions, including two hat-tricks in his most recent four – for Real Madrid in May 2017 and Juventus in March 2019, both in this competition.
Atletico’s attack for Tuesday’s second leg of the last-16 tie was spearheaded by Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix, with former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez on the bench.
