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07.03.2022 » The keys to beat Atletico in the Champions League
Following another disappointing performance and result in the Premier League this past Sunday, the Red Devils's chances of securing a Champions League spot for next season are becoming slimmer and slimmer. Betting on United these days is highly risky and even football fans should consider other options like some of the no deposit 50 free spins offered on other markets. United are now 5th in the Premier League and only 1 point behind Arsenal, but the London club has 3 games in hand. With only 11 fixtures left in the remaining of the season, the chances that Ralf Rangnick's side finishes anywhere inside the top 4 positions seem to be diminishing week by week. On the bright side, a top position in the Premier League isn't the only route to secure a Champions League ticket to the upcoming season and Man United, as winning the major European competition itself would allow Ronaldo and his teammates to defend the tittle the season after...
Cristiano Ronaldo - Dribbling skills:
The alternative route
The primary plan, and the most realistic one judging by the odds presented by multiple sports bookmakers in the market, was to put the focus on the Premier League and finish the season in any of the 4 top spots. By doing so, Manchester United would immediately secure a Champions League presence next season, which is the club's priority due to its obvious financial impacts. The season, however, has been far from meeting the initial expectations everyone had and, at this point, Manchester United are going to need a miracle in order to get at least the 4th spot in the league.
With the Premier League's route almost out of the equation, the only alternative left for the Red Devils to secure a Champions League participation next season isn't exactly easier: United would need to win the Champions League this year as that would allow the club the right to defend their title next season. From an optimistic point of view, we could say that half of the job was already done, as United advanced from their group into the knockout stages and are now in good position to qualify to the quarter-finals of the competition. Realistically however, we also know that the biggest sharks are waiting in more advanced stages and that it's going to be extremely difficult to win any of the upcoming games.
Nevertheless and as United continues sinking in the Premier League, Rangnick is most certainly realizing that he should prioritize his upcoming European battles more than ever. While it may sound over optimistic to claim that United has some chances of winning the Champions League this season, it's a thought the club really has to hold to as that may turn out to be their last hope of saving the season...
Beating Atletico won't be easy!
The first leg of the Champions League last-16 round brought us a few surprising results and United's 1-1 draw against Atletico in Madrid was in line with that trend. The Spanish giants may not be going through a great moment, but Diego Simeone is a true expert in playing this type of games. Similarly to Manchester United, the Colchoneros are also struggling in their domestic league and are not in a very comfortable position to secure a Champions League spot next season. Atletico are currently 4th in La Liga, sitting just 2 points above Betis and 4 points above Real Sociedad.
The second leg is scheduled for March 15 at Old Trafford and Simeone has definitely everything prepared in his mind in order to attempt frustrating the Red Devils and eventually come out on top at the end of the game. On the other hand, Manchester United needs to play with the intensity and motivation levels they presented in Madrid, as that already gave them the edge over their opponents in their first clash. Ronaldo will also play a decisive role against Atletico, as one of the most experienced players on the pitch with an impressive scoring record against the Colchoneros. Just three years ago, while playing for Juventus, the Portuguese forward completed a hat-trick against Diego Simeone's man and single-handedly decimated Atletico in the knockout stages. Can he do it again for United?
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Manchester United is on March 12, against Tottenham. You can watch Manchester United vs Tottenham, Real Madrid vs PSG, Barcelona vs Galatasaray, Tottenham vs Everton, Liverpool vs Inter, and Bayern Munich vs RB Salzburg, all matches provided from our soccer live streaming game pages.
Manchester United next game:
Manchester United vs Tottenham kick-off time (12-03-2022):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 03:00
Jakarta (Indonesia) | UTC/GMT+7: 02:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 00:30
Italy (Turin) | UTC/GMT+2: 21:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 21:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 20:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 16:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 15:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 12:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / reuters.com / france24.com
