Spanish report shares Atletico XI Simeone has been training before United clash

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A report from Spain has shared the starting lineup Atletico Madrid are working on in training ahead of their match with Manchester United.

Spanish outlet AS claim that Atleti boss Diego Simeone has been working on a 5-3-2 system ahead of the Champions League last 16 clash.

Atletico trained with an XI which had Jan Oblak in goal as expected. Sime Vrsaljko was at right wing-back, with former Manchester City defender Stefan Savić alongside Felipe and Reinildo in a back three.

In the absence of Yannick Carrasco and possibly Thomas Lemar, Renan Lodi is apparently set to play at left wing-back, with Marcos Llorente Hector Herrera and Geoffrey Kondogbia the three central midfielders.

Lodi is apparently seen as an emergency solution given the injuries, but Atletico hope that the wing-back role will allow him to push on and hurt United, while offering defensive solidity behind.

In attack, the report claims that Angel Correa and João Félix are set to play up front.

That means no place for former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez or French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann from the start.

Griezmann returned to training last week and was described as ‘very close’ to a return to action. He was on the bench for the weekend 3-0 win over Osasuna.

Suarez started that game but would be a superb impact sub for Atletico to have as the game enters its closing stages.

Of course, his Uruguay international teammate Edinson Cavani has not been passed fit to re-join the United squad for the game.

Simeone is a superb tactician, who has experience of these kinds of nights, where he is capable of whipping the home crowd up into a frenzy.

United have experienced players such as Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, but have not played in too many intense matches which matter as a group.

That could make the difference, although it would be interesting to see how a wing-back system would match up against Ralf Rangnick’s 4-3-3.

United had to alter their setup in last month’s home match against Wolves – who use a five-man backline – and failed to get to grips with Bruno Lage’s side.

Middlesbrough also came with a five at the back system and left Old Trafford with a win, so perhaps Simeone is about to pose a real tactical conundrum which United need to find an answer to.