An early strike from Arnau Ortiz — the undisputed breakout star of pre-season — was not enough for Atletico Madrid, who crumbled after the interval following two costly defensive errors. A clumsy challenge resulting in a penalty from Jorge Castillo and a lapse in concentration from Rodrigo Mendoza allowed Bryan Mbeumo and Manchester United to snatch a 2-1 victory.

Simeone's side came agonisingly close to a late leveller as a thunderbolt from Hjulmand and a header from Mendoza both rattled the woodwork in quick succession. It marked the first defeat of the summer for the Rojiblancos as they continue to build match fitness, still hamstrung by the absence of half their first-team squad. World Cup stars Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth, Giuliano Simeone, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marcos Llorente, Thiago Almada, Marc Pubill, Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, and Alex Baena remain unavailable, alongside the injured Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso, and Kang-In Lee, who is still in South Korea.

In their absence, Arnau Ortiz continues his meteoric rise. The 24-year-old winger from Figueres, who turns 25 in October, moved from Girona in 2024 following loan spells at Penya Deportiva, Murcia, Eldense, and Cartagena, before a stint in Poland with Slask Wroclaw. He is a high-voltage presence on the pitch; his searing pace, audacity, and agility make him a constant, unpredictable threat to opposition full-backs.

His clinical edge only adds to his burgeoning reputation. No player across the 40 La Liga academies netted more than Ortiz last term — he bagged 23 for Fernando Torres's Atletico Madrileno — and few have burst into the senior setup with such grit and ambition to claim a place in the squad.

He is a truly fearless footballer. Unburdened by doubt or reputation, he is direct and explosive, whether operating from his preferred left flank or leading the line, as Simeone trialled this Saturday. Even with the usual pre-season caveats, his performances suggest he is ready for a higher stage. Having never graced Spain's top flight, he is now firmly knocking on the door, be it at the Metropolitano or elsewhere.

After netting within half an hour against Getafe last Wednesday with a superb run in behind, he was even quicker off the mark against United. It took less than five minutes for him to break the deadlock, though this time with a touch of fortune; his whipped, out-swinging cross bypassed everyone, flummoxing Heaton as Carlos Martin's leap added to the confusion before the ball nestled in the net.

With so many regulars missing, Simeone stuck to the tactical blueprint seen in the 4-1 win over Getafe, employing a fluid system that saw 16-year-old centre-back Jorge Dominguez drifting between the heart of the defence and the right-back slot.

Whether a 4-4-2, 5-3-2, or 5-4-1... the shape morphed constantly depending on the phase of play. The Rojiblancos' structure is rarely static, often reverting to a back three during defensive transitions to counter the opposition's movement.

Atletico dominated both areas in the opening period. While Arnau Ortiz provided the spark up front, Jan Oblak produced a vintage display at the other end. Embarking on his 13th season with the club, the Slovenian showed razor-sharp reflexes to parry a ferocious diagonal volley from Luke Shaw, before using his boot to keep out a deflected Amad Diallo free-kick.

Despite holding a 1-0 lead at the break, concerns lingered over set-piece vulnerability and overall tempo. Ortiz missed a chance to double the lead following good work from academy peer Jorge Castillo, who then turned villain after the restart by conceding a penalty for a foul on Lacey. A moment of youthful indiscretion allowed Mbeumo to step up and send Esquivel — who replaced Oblak at half-time — the wrong way to equalise in the 50th minute.

Gimenez, Hjulmand, and Mendoza were introduced for Le Normand, Koke, and Obed Vargas as the changes rung out. By the hour mark, the entire starting XI had been rotated, with six more starlets (Romeo Hueso, Dani Martinez, Arnau Sola, Iker Luque, Sergio Esteban, and Javi Bonar) joining Lemar, who returned from his Girona loan to immediately set up a golden chance for Sola, only for Heaton to stand firm.

United, who had only introduced Jack Fletcher for Amad Diallo at the break, eventually found the winner through Atletico's own defensive frailty. A scuffed, underhit clearance from Mendoza put the backline under pressure, and Esquivel's panicked attempt to clear hit Mbeumo, with the ball ricocheting into the empty net to seal the turnaround.

Arnau Ortiz

Achievements