Atletico Madrid were stung by a late Anthony Elanga goal as Manchester United earned a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital on Wednesday night, in the opening leg of the Champions League last 16.

The reigning Spanish champions have let their crown slip this season but began the tie with a feverish intensity. Pressing their soporific hosts from the off, Atletico won their second corner in seven minutes from this proactive approach.

Manchester United could only half-clear the set piece which dropped to Renan Lodi. Belting the ball back into the box, Joao Felix snuck between Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane, tossing his head towards the vicious cross which he diverted past a dumbstruck David de Gea.

With a lead to protect, Atletico ceded possession to Manchester United, but allowed them the ball in exclusively and emphatically unthreatening positions. Morphing between a 4-4-2 and 5-3-2 depending on how far the bumbling blue shirts advanced, Diego Simeone’s side kept the Premier League team at arm’s length.

Picking their moments when to pounce on United’s painfully imprecise passing, Atletico corralled Ralf Rangnick’s visitors into their own half for large swathes, denying them a single shot on target or touch in the opposition box in the first half.

On the cusp of half-time a familiar set piece routine from Atletico bamboozled their dopey opponents as Lodi scuttled down the byline. Flinging another cross into the box, his opposite wingback Sime Vrsaljko diverted the ball onto the underside of the crossbar via Victor Lindelof’s face.

United scarcely improved after the interval but Atletico failed to build on their advantage in a game of few clear cut chances, gradually sinking deeper into their own half.

As the match ticked into its final ten minutes, United struck an equaliser through second half substitute Elanga, leading a clinically taken breakaway with their first shot on target of the entire match.

Antoine Griezmann was denied via the crossbar in the 86th minute as United managed to – somehow – emerge from the Wanda Metropolitano all square.

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Jan Oblak (GK) – 4/10 – Bizarre positioning for the rare sight of goal United were afforded.

Stefan Savic (CB) – 7/10 – When sporadically called into action, carried out his defensive duties with a steely authority.

Jose Maria Gimenez (CB) – 7/10 – Marshalled his backline serenely for so much of the game.

Reinildo (CB) – 6/10 – Pushing forward in perfect harmony with Lodi ahead of him, but missed his attempt at an interception for Elanga’s goal.

Sime Vrsaljko (RWB) – 7/10 – Scarcely troubled by whichever winger Rangnick sent down his touchline.

Marcos Llorente (CM) – 7/10 – Not overly involved as much of the play was funnelled down the opposite flank, but positive when he did get on the ball.

Geoffrey Kondogbia (CM) – 8/10 – Dominating midfield on and off the ball.

Hector Herrera (CM) – 7/10 – Snaffling up any loose balls that scuttled out of the cul-de-sacs every passing lane turned into for the visitors.

Renan Lodi (LWB) – 8/10 – The biggest compliment Lodi can be paid was that the suspended Yannick Carrasco was scarcely missed.

Atlético Madrid lead Manchester United! ?

João Félix with a wonderful header. ? pic.twitter.com/HaxT2D1ZMf

— 90min (@90min_Football) February 23, 2022

Angel Correa (ST) – 7/10 – Scampering around the turf with an unbridled desire to get a toe on the ball or an opponent’s ankle.

Joao Felix (ST) – 8/10 – Causing mayhem floating between the lines. Treated to a much-deserved standing ovation upon his second half substitution.

Thomas Lemar (LWB) – 6/10

Antoine Griezmann (ST) – 6/10

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David de Gea (GK) – 5/10 – Summed up the disjointed performance when he rolled a goal kick to Raphael Varane while his defender’s back was turned.

Victor Lindelof (RB) – 5/10 – Made a goal-saving block to deny Atletico taking an even earlier lead but desperately struggled to quell the threat Lodi offered.

Raphael Varane (CB) – 4/10 – Cut a decidedly unassured presence in the backline.

Harry Maguire (CB) – 3/10 – Fizzing simple passes into Fred’s shins stymied United’s attacks in their infancy. Also let Felix run across him for the game’s opener.

Luke Shaw (LB) – 5/10 – Not overly troubled in his own half but offered nothing going forward.

Fred (CM) – 4/10 – Somehow managed to seemingly be both too far and too close to his teammates at any given opportunity.

Paul Pogba (CM) – 4/10 – Ever eager to get on the ball, Pogba was frequently unable to wriggle away from the red and white shirts invariably crowding around him.

Bruno Fernandes (AM) – 5/10 – Redeemed a dreadful display with one cool-headed moment that completed changed the shape of the contest.

Marcus Rashford (RW) – 4/10 – Often fell into the trap of tossing a hopeful and frequently aimless cross into the box to appease Ronaldo’s pleads for service as much as anything.

Cristiano Ronaldo (ST) – 3/10 – Skirting around the fringes of a contest he peppered with more pained glances towards the referee than shots.

Jadon Sancho (LW) – 4/10 – Constantly ushered from one wing to the other but barely able to make any discernible impact on either.

Nemanja Matic (CM) – 6/10

Alex Telles (LB) – 6/10

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) – 6/10

Anthony Elanga (RW) – 7/10 – Provided the telling impact his manager has come to expect of late.

Jesse Lingard (LW) – N/A