Atletico Madrid vs Man United best XI: Marcus Rashford misses out as £34m-rated Man City-linked star attacker selection

Manchester United’s return to the Champions League was supposed to mark the next chapter in Michael Carrick’s rebuilding project, but the Red Devils have made an underwhelming start to the 2026-27 Premier League campaign, collecting just six points from their opening six matches after drawing 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, by contrast, have been among LaLiga’s most impressive sides in the early weeks of the season, sitting second in the table with six wins from eight matches, although they kicked off their European campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool.

United, meanwhile, made a promising start to their European campaign, thrashing Azerbaijani side Sabah 4-0 on matchday one as they returned to the competition after a three-year absence.

This combined XI is based primarily on early-season form and statistical output across both clubs, with Atletico providing seven of the 11 selections after producing the stronger individual numbers in several key positions.

Here, Football Whispers takes a closer look at the best XI of Atletico Madrid and Manchester United players this season.

Atletico Madrid vs Man United Best XI

GK: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)

Oblak gets the nod over Senne Lammens, having recorded three clean sheets across his nine appearances in all competitions this season, compared with the United goalkeeper’s one in seven outings.

Lammens impressed during the international break, making eight saves in Belgium’s win over Turkey and earning strong ratings from the Belgian press, but Oblak’s clean-sheet record gives him the edge in this comparison.

RB: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)

Marcos Llorente’s attacking contribution makes him the standout choice at right-back, with one goal and one assist in nine appearances across all competitions, including a strike in Atletico’s opening Champions League fixture at Anfield.

As such, the Spaniard gets the nod on the right side of defence ahead of Diogo Dalot, who has come under considerable scrutiny at Old Trafford this season.

CB: David Hancko (Atletico Madrid)

Hancko has made an impressive start to the campaign, providing two assists in nine appearances across all competitions, and he gets the nod over Lisandro Martinez, who has looked shaky at the back this season despite scoring against Sabah on matchday one.

Martinez was at fault for Tottenham’s equaliser at the weekend, failing to deal with Dominic Solanke adequately, and that lapse has contributed to his exclusion from this predicted XI.

CB: Cristian Romero (Atletico Madrid)

Cristian Romero takes the second centre-back spot after establishing himself as a regular in Atletico’s defence. 

The former Tottenham Hotspur defender found the net in Atletico’s win over Alaves at the weekend, and that sets him apart from Harry Maguire, who has endured another inconsistent spell this term and was an unused substitute on matchday one.

LB: Alejandro Grimaldo (Atletico Madrid)

Alejandro Grimaldo’s attacking numbers make him one of the most productive wide defenders in Europe at this stage of the campaign, having scored three goals and provided one assist in eight appearances this season.

Luke Shaw’s fitness concerns and early-season defensive errors count against him, while Patrick Dorgu’s injury sustained on international duty removes another potential United contender from the equation, making Grimaldo the clear choice at left-back.

CM: Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid)

Pablo Barrios takes one of the two holding midfield roles after proving a reliable presence in Simeone’s side during the opening weeks of the season.

His work without the ball, ability to win back possession and contribution to Atletico’s build-up have all played a part in their strong start in LaLiga, making him a natural fit for the double pivot.

CM: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Kobbie Mainoo has little to show in terms of direct output so far this season, with just one assist from eight appearances across all competitions, but the 21-year-old’s value to this combined XI lies in his work away from the final third.

His ability to protect the backline, break up play and recycle possession efficiently alongside a more defensively minded partner makes him a natural fit for the double pivot, where those qualities are particularly important.

Crucially, he gets the nod over his United teammate Youri Tielemans and Atletico’s Morten Hjulmand, with Mainoo’s suitability for a deeper midfield role giving him the edge in this particular setup.

AM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Bruno Fernandes takes the attacking midfield role, and his contributions this season make a strong case for his inclusion.

The Portuguese captain scored a Premier League hat-trick against Ipswich Town, then added a goal in United’s Champions League win over Sabah, making his inclusion in this XI a no-brainer.

RW: Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United)

Bryan Mbeumo has made a solid, if inconsistent, start to the 2026-27 campaign, scoring three Premier League goals before adding another contribution in United’s Champions League opener against Sabah.

Giuliano Simeone has also impressed in the early weeks, with two goals and as many assists in nine appearances, but Mbeumo’s direct goal involvement on matchday one of the league phase gives him the edge on the right in this XI.

ST: Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)

Matheus Cunha gets the nod ahead of Atletico’s attackers Julian Alvarez and Jonathan David in the number nine role.

While Alvarez has struggled to get his season going following his transfer-related uncertainty at the club, David has impressed up front for the Spanish side, netting three goals and providing two assists in five matches for Atletico.

Cunha has also produced five goal contributions this season, although he has done so across eight appearances. However, the Brazilian scored against Sabah on matchday one, giving him the edge over David, who could only manage a short cameo in the opening round of Champions League fixtures.

LW: Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)

Alex Baena completes the XI after making an impressive start to the campaign, contributing four goals and two assists in nine appearances across all competitions.

Those numbers put him ahead of Marcus Rashford, who has shown flashes of creativity but is yet to register a goal or assist this season.