With the second leg of the Manchester United vs. Atletico Madrid  Champions League matchup on the slate in the round of 16, all eyes will be on Ralf Rangnick's squad as they look to defend Old Trafford. After the pair split the first leg 1-1, the stakes will be raised in Manchester for the win-or-go-home matchup. Neither club has been in the best of form this season, but both have managed to scrape through into the round of 16, and it would be a disappointment on the end of both clubs to be sent packing this early into the tournament. With that in mind, we'll be making some Manchester United Champions League round of 16 predictions.

United will need to find a way to get their offense flowing against Atletico Madrid's stout defense. Cristiano Ronaldo has been out of form for the Premier League club, and they will be hoping he can rediscover his magic ahead of the crucial tie. Throughout their entire Champions League journey this season, the Red Devils have maintained just one clean sheet, so the defense will be eager to step up against Atletico Madrid and keep the ball away from David de Gea between the sticks.

Here are a few bold predictions for Manchester United in their Champions League Round of 16 matchup against Atletico Madrid.

3 Bold Predictions for Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid in Champions League

3. David de Gea wins Man of the Match

While Manchester United's defense has been subpar all year, the same cannot be said for goalkeeper David de Gea. The Spaniard has arguably been United's most reliable player, and their goal record both in the Premier League and in the Champions League would be vastly worse if not for their superstar goalie. It wouldn't be all too surprising to see the United defenders come up second best against Atletico Madrid's attackers such as Luis Suarez, Joao Felix, and Angel Correa, but they'll have a more difficult time getting the ball past de Gea.

We're expecting de Gea to be called upon frequently against Atletico, but for the 31-year-old to be an impenetrable wall for the Red Devils. Manchester United will keep a clean sheet at Old Trafford against Madrid, and de Gea will have more than 7 saves in what will be a Man of the Match effort.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo's struggles continue

When Manchester City brought Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club this past summer, expectations were sky-high for the club. He's failed to impress, however, scoring just 9 goals in 23 Premier League appearances. He's been sharper in the Champions League, notching 6 goals in as many games, but his tally for the calendar year of 2022 remains at just 1 goal in 10 appearances. Considering he's struggled to score against lowly defensive teams such as Brentford, Burnley, and Leeds, it's not difficult to envision the 37-year-old struggling against a formidable defensive side like Atletico.

Ronaldo will surely be looking to find the back of the net. In 2022, Ronaldo has not once registered fewer than two shot attempts. His finishing product just hasn't been there, and a matchup with Atletico does not seem the likely battleground for him to rediscover his form. Historically, Ronaldo has been excellent against Atletico, but the odds don't seem to be in his favor this time around.

1. Manchester United win in extra time 

With the away goal tiebreaker rule no longer in effect in the Champions League, these two squads are firmly even at 1-1 heading into the second leg. Under previous years' rules, Manchester United would technically be ahead of Atletico in aggregate scoring due to the weight placed on scoring an away goal. That rule was abolished in 2021-22, meaning that this game will be played under essentially a fresh slate.

These squads tied in their previous meeting in Spain, and they seem to be evenly matched across the pitch. That sets the table for another draw at the end of the 90 minutes, at which point the teams will head to extra time. While penalties could be an exciting way to end this one, we're predicting a late-winner from Manchester United in the second period of extra time, which will place the team into the Quarterfinals.