In many ways Atletico Madrid were the perfect pre-season opponents for Manchester United, despite the 1-0 defeat.
Their feisty DNA proved a rough test for Erik ten Hag’s squad, who were the better side for 90 per cent of the game. Both sides looked very different to the ones that met in the last 16 of the Champions League earlier in the year.
United looked more fluid and enjoyed regular attacking spells against a team whose season opener is not yet for another fortnight. They had a number of chances to find the net, Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellistri squandering the best of them.
