It feels a long time since Manchester United played Sabah on their opening group-stage match.
There will be 3,750 United fans in the stands. They have not had much to cheer this season.
Atlético Madrid captain Koke will not play tonight after his mother died.
There will be a moment of silence before the game at the Metropolitano Stadium, and the home teamâÂÂs players will wear black armbands. KokeâÂÂs brother, Borja Resurrección, is an assistant coach of AtleticoâÂÂs under-19 squad. The clubâÂÂs flag outside the Metropolitano is flying at half-mast
With Manchester United and Michael Carrick careering towards the dumper, then travelling to face Diego SimeoneâÂÂs Atleti is almost certainly not the fixture that would be handpicked. Though perhaps it can serve as some kind of turning point. Play as sluggishly as United have in their last two Premier League matches either side of the international break â Fulham and Tottenham â and thereâÂÂs big trouble in store. Atlético have won their last four matches in La Liga, including a famous win in the Madrid derby. Their last Champions League match did, thouugh, see them lose at Anfield. If the competitionâÂÂs bloated structure has its critics, and United can probably get away with losing in the scheme of reaching the knockouts, Carrick can barely afford to. Further to that, there may not be two more opposite touchline characters than Simeone and Carrick.
Kick-off is at 8pm UK time. Join me.