Manchester United have ideal player to face Atletico after UCL draw, it’s not just Ronaldo

Follow us on Google Discover

Well, wasn’t that Champions League round of 16 draw entertaining?

After a big muddle at the first time of asking, UEFA finally got their house in order and managed to put the right balls in the right bowls.

Having initially been partnered with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United’s opponents turned out to be Atletico Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi has been replaced with Diego Simeone versus Ralf Rangnick.

It’s no headline act, but it should be an intriguing match-up nonetheless. Especially as the two sides have never encountered each other in this competition, despite being regular campaigners in Europe.

Fresh challenge for United

That means there will be an unknown quantity to the tie when United travel to Madrid on 15 February.

However, a few members of Rangnick’s squad know plenty about their Spanish opponents. None more so than CR7, who has scored a mere 25 goals against Atletico across his glittering career.

Seven of those have come in the Champions League, including the 2014 final and a hat-trick in the 2017 semi-final first leg.

Juan Mata faced the La Liga team on numerous occasions too while playing for Valencia. Meanwhile, David De Gea swapped the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium – previously called the Vicente Calderon Stadium – for Old Trafford in 2011.

However, there’s another who has studied Diego Simeone’s team as well as anyone.

Varane the man for Atletico

Raphael Varane will welcome the task of taking on Atletico, having crossed swords with them several times during his Real Madrid career – 25 times to be precise. It’s the most appearances the Frenchman has made against a single opponent.

His knowledge of the way Los Colchoneros play could be crucial to United’s progression through this round. Not to mention his experience in the tournament.

A four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, few can boast a better European trophy haul than the defender.

Hopefully Rangnick will have Varane available for the tie as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. United will need all the experience they can muster.