Atletico Madrid welcome Manchester United to the Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday evening for their second UEFA Champions League League Stage fixture, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 UTC. The hosts sit in 26th place in the 36-team table, in the bottom third, while the visitors occupy fourth spot in the top third. Three points currently separate the two sides.
Despite their position in the Champions League table, Atletico Madrid arrive in strong domestic form. They have won four consecutive matches and taken 12 points from their last five outings across all competitions. Their most recent result was a 1-2 victory away at Alaves, and prior to that they defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at home.
Manchester United, by contrast, have drawn their last two matches. They took six points from their previous five fixtures, with results including a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham and a 1-1 draw away at Fulham. They currently sit fourth in the League Stage standings on three points, in the top third of the table.
Atletico Madrid go into this match on zero points from their opening League Stage fixture, while Manchester United began their campaign with a 4-0 victory and three points. The table places the two sides at opposite ends of the standings, with Atletico Madrid in 26th and Manchester United in fourth in the 36-team competition.
Both sides have contrasting trajectories heading into Tuesday's match. Atletico Madrid carry the momentum of a four-match winning run, whereas Manchester United have not won in their last two fixtures. The Metropolitano will host what the table frames as a meeting between a side firmly in the top third and one looking to climb out of the bottom third of a tightly packed 36-team competition.