Atletico Madrid will need an epic, perfect night on Thursday to dream of overturning the emphatic 0-3 defeat at home last week against Manchester United in their 2025-26 Women's Champions League 'playoff.'

The red-and-white team did not have a good first-leg match against the Manchester side, which was vastly superior and effective at the Alcala de Henares Sports Center, where the home side lost many of their chances to return, six years later, to being among the top eight of the top continental competition.

Atletico tried until the end last Thursday and even in the final stretch could have scored a goal that would have given them some greater hope of turning around a tie that is already apparently heavily tilted in favor of their rival, usually strong at home, with only two losses this season, against France's powerful Olympique Lyon in the Champions League (0-3) and against Aston Villa (0-1) in their league.

Furthermore, the scoreline favors them when it comes to planning a match in which the team managed by Jose Herrera must decide whether to go all out from the beginning in search of an early goal that can lift their spirits, but which also leaves them exposed defensively against a Manchester United side with a lot of danger up front.

It also remains to be seen how the Madrid team's coach approaches the match, which can also serve to boost the squad's morale, and whether he prefers to give minutes to players with less participation with a view to future commitments and the complicated visit to Sevilla FC in the Liga F Moeve.

This could be the case for Brazilian player Gio Garbelini, who recently recovered from an injury and started last Sunday in the derby against Madrid CFF, which ended in a scoreless draw that practically left Atletico without options to compete in the Champions League again next year.

Also, Brazilian player Luany, who has lost some of her prominence, Priscila Chinchilla or Kathrine Kuhl, winter transfer window signings, could get their opportunity against the team coached by Marc Skinner, who rotated heavily last weekend compared to the first-leg lineup in their 2-1 comeback victory against London City Lionesses to remain in second place, eight points behind Manchester City.

The coach ruled out Anna Sandberg, Fridolina Rolfo, and Ella Toone for this match, while he hopes to be able to count on Jayde Riviere and Melvine Malard, and Elisabeth Terland remains a doubt.

Probable lineup:

Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, George; Miyazawa, Zigiotti Olme, Awujo; Wangerheim, Schuller, and Park.

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