Manchester United still without Edinson Cavani for Atletico Madrid first leg

Veteran striker Edinson Cavani remains absent as interim manager Ralf Rangnick leads Manchester United to Atletico Madrid for their first Champions League knockout tie in three years.

Wednesday’s last-16 first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano pits together two sides enduring challenging seasons, with Diego Simeone’s LaLiga champions stuttering during a poor title defence.

Atletico have produced the kind of Jekyll and Hyde displays that those watching United have become accustomed to, although Rangnick’s side made it back-to-back wins with Sunday’s thrilling 4-2 triumph at Leeds.

Another hostile atmosphere awaits the Red Devils on Wednesday, when United will be unable to draw on the experience of 35-year-old Uruguay forward Cavani for a fourth straight game.

“No, Edi will not be able to make the trip,” Rangnick said. “He didn’t train and he has not been training for the last couple of weeks, so he will not be part of the group.

“He has problems with his groin and, as long as he does not feel able to fully sprint, it does not make sense to train him and to force him back into training.

“I think he’s got enough experience to know by himself if he’s fully available again.”

Cavani’s continued absence is a blow as United prepare for their first Champions League last-16 tie since 2019, when the Uruguayan was part of the Paris St Germain side stunned in jaw-dropping fashion.

They bowed out in the quarter-finals to Barcelona after away goals saw them through in France, but with that rule abolished Rangnick is focused on just building a solid foundation in the Spanish capital.

“In the Champions League you need to perform on the highest possible level,” he said.

“Of course we had a game on Sunday, a very physical one. Atletico played