Atlético Madrid deepen Manchester United’s troubles as Arsenal win and Inter fall

Atlético Madrid beat Manchester United 2-0 away on Tuesday in the second round of the Champions League league phase. In the other matches covered, Arsenal secured a second win and Inter suffered a second defeat.

Manchester United came into the game without a victory in their previous four matches in all competitions. Their start to the Premier League season had also been particularly difficult: six points from their first six games, their worst return at that stage in 40 years.

Atlético struck early. After 47 seconds, Álex Baena drove into the penalty area and crossed for Pablo Barrios, who scored after the ball had gone through Ayden Heaven’s attempted intervention. United then tried to get back into the match. Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford had chances, and Bruno Fernandes went close after the break, but the score did not change.

The second goal arrived in the 79th minute. Five minutes earlier, Leny Yoro had been sent off for a foul on Jonathan David as he ran through on goal. With a numerical advantage, Atlético extended their lead: substitute Ademola Lookman turned in a David shot.

Arsenal, the other English side and an unsuccessful finalist, also recorded a second victory. Jurrien Timber put Arsenal ahead in the 64th minute from a Noni Madueke pass, after a first half in which they had struggled to make their superiority count.

Inter, meanwhile, suffered a second defeat. After previously losing 2-1 away to Real Madrid, the Italian side went down 4-3 to Club Bruges. Nicolò Tresoldi scored three times. He converted a penalty in the 30th minute, awarded after Carlos Forbs surged forward against Hakan Çalhanoğlu. A mistake by goalkeeper Josep Martínez then allowed Bruges to retake the lead: Tresoldi scored into an empty net in the 63rd minute and completed his hat-trick in the 74th.