Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid: Teams announced with Pogba & Rashford dropped

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has decided to drop Paul Pogba for Tuesday night’s Champions League second-leg tie against Atletico Madrid.

Pogba is one of three changes from the side which started at the weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, with Nemanja and Marcus Rashford also relegated to the bench.

Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes both missed the win over Spurs, but return to the side, as does Anthony Elanga. Luke Shaw isn’t involved at all as he continues to regain his fitness having tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks ago.

It means United start with former Atletico man David De Gea in nets, ahead of a back four of Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Alex Telles.

In midfield, it’s the hard-working duo of McTominay and Fred, with Fernandes likely to play just ahead of that pair.

Up front, Rangnick selects Ronaldo after his excellent showing at the weekend, with Jadon Sancho and Elanga in the wide areas.

As for Atletico, they start with Koke in the middle. The Atletico captain missed the first leg through injury, but his return at Old Trafford is a big boost for Diego Simeone.

Meanwhile, it’s a dangerous front two of Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix, with Luiz Suarez on the bench.

The two sides are tied 1-1 from last month’s first leg in Spain, where Felix and Anthony Elanga netted the goals.

The winner of Tuesday’s game will progress to the the quarter-finals, which will be played over two legs on 5/6 April and 12/13 April. The draw for the last eight and the semi-finals will be made on Friday.

Teams in full

Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Telles; McTominay, Fred; Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo.

Substitutes: Henderson, Heaton, Bailly, Jones, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka, Lingard, Mata, Matic, Pogba, Cavani, Rashford.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Savic, Gimenez, Reinildo, Lodi; Koke, Herrera, De Paul; Felix, Griezmann.

Substitutes: Lecomte, Christian, Felipe, Hermoso, Gonzalez, Ibra, Kondogbia, Serrano, Moreno, Carlos, Suarez, Correa.