Atletico Madrid 1-1 Man Utd: Anthony Elanga strikes late to leave Champions League last-16 tie in ba

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Teenager Anthony Elanga came to Manchester United's rescue as his 80th-minute strike secured a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Wanda Metropolitano.

United were seeking to emulate the three other English sides left in the Champions League by securing a first-leg lead in the first knockout round, and Ralf Rangnick said on the eve of the trip to Madrid that he was prioritising this competition.

But his side fell behind within seven minutes of kick-off in Spain. Having cleared the initial corner, Atleti left-back Renan Lodi swung in a cross from the left that Joao Felix raced past Harry Maguire to greet with a stunning header that went in off the near post.

The visitors bossed possession but did not look at all comfortable throughout the first half. Cristiano Ronaldo, whistled throughout, became increasingly irate by Atletico's approach and the hosts went close to a second just before half-time as Sime Vrsaljko hit the crossbar.

United had produced a listless display before substitute Elanga latched onto Bruno Fernandes' pass to reverse his shot across Jan Oblak into the bottom corner. With away goals no longer counting in Europe, it means the tie is firmly in the balance ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday March 15.

Player ratings
Atletico Madrid: Oblak (6), Savic (7), Gimenez (7), Mandava (7), Vrsaljko (7), Llorente (6), Kondogbia (8), Herrera (8), Renan Lodi (7), Correa (7), Joao Felix (8).

Subs: Griezmann (n/a), Lemar (n/a).

Man Utd: De Gea (6), Lindelof (5), Varane (5), Maguire (6), Shaw (5), Fred (6), Pogba (5), Rashford (5), Bruno Fernandes (5), Sancho (5), Ronaldo (5).

Subs: Alex Telles (6), Wan-Bissaka (6), Matic (6), Elanga (7).

Man of the match: Joao Felix.

Elanga lifeline after Felix brilliance

Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix celebrates The last-16 first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano pitted together two sides enduring challenging seasons, with Diego Simeone's La Liga champions stuttering during a poor title defence.

Atletico have produced the kind of Jekyll and Hyde displays that those watching United have become accustomed to, although Rangnick's side had made it back-to-back wins with Sunday's thrilling 4-2 triumph at Leeds.

Team news
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick made three changes as Manchester United faced Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Fred, Marcus Rashford and Raphael Varane came in for the absent Scott McTominay, Jesse Lingard and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in Spain.

UEFA listed Bruno Fernandes as United's captain on their team sheet, although captain Harry Maguire was listed as skipper by the club. Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez started on the bench for Atletico Madrid.

The hosts looked bright from the first whistle and their opener duly arrived after just seven minutes. Rangnick's decision to play Victor Lindelof at right-back was looking all the more curious when he failed to stop Renan Lodi's cross as Felix ghosted in between Maguire and Raphael Varane to launch himself at the ball.

David de Gea was rooted to the spot as the world's fourth most expensive player - signed for €126m from Benfica - saw his header crash into the net via the post.

Joao Felix rises to brilliantly head Atletico in front

Another hostile atmosphere welcomed United on Wednesday - especially goalkeeper De Gea - an Atletico academy graduate who left in 2011 and nearly joined rivals Real Madrid four years later - and Ronaldo.

No player has appeared more in the Champions League than the 37-year-old, who has five winners' medals to his name and been the scourge of Atletico time and time again down the years. But here his every touch was greeted with jeers and it was a fruitless first-half.

Joao Felix scores the opening goal of the game
David de Gea is beaten by Felix's header

Vrsaljko was unfortunate not to double Atletico's lead on the stroke of the half-time as his header deflected onto the bar off Lindelof, but something had to change at the break for United.

In an interview with TNT Sports Brazil, midfielder Fred recently described the club's decision to have an interim manager in charge until the end of the season as "strange", questioning whether there was a "long-term plan" in place.

Here, the plan was plain wrong. United hadn't had a single touch in the Atletico box. There were plenty of issues for Rangnick to address having seen his side give away possession of 50 occasions. And yet, there were no changes at the restart.

Atletico Madrid vs Man Utd
Man Utd were second best throughout the first half

United just needed to stay in the tie. Ronaldo's 79th-minute free-kick sailed harmlessly over the bar, with his compatriot Felix winning the battle of the No 7s and deservedly taking a standing ovation, but it would be Elanga who provided an unlikely twist with United's first shot on target.

Ronaldo was involved with his cushioned header into the path of Fred setting off the United swift transition as Fernandes spotted the run of Elanga. Oblak was all at sea as the 19-year-old spotted the opportunity for an early shot to surprise the Atletico goalkeeper.

There was still time for Antoine Griezmann to lift an audacious effort onto De Gea's crossbar from Marcos Llorente's pass in the final five minutes but United dug deep to frustrate their opponents.

Anthony Elanga celebrates his second-half equaliser
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