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Manchester United kick-off their Champions League knockout campaign tonight with a daunting trip to face Atletico Madrid in the round of 16.

United topped Group F ahead of Villarreal before Christmas but were handed a tricky draw in the shape of Atletico who were runners-up to Liverpool in Group B.

Suarez and Ronaldo are set to face off in the Champions League
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Suarez and Ronaldo are set to face off in the Champions League

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds did beat the Spaniards home and away in the group stages to give United confidence but Diego Simeone’s side are always a tough opponent.

United have been improving under Ralf Rangnick recently and haven’t lost since January 3.

They beat Leeds in a 4-2 thriller in the Premier League on Sunday and will want to get a positive result in Spain to take back to Old Trafford for the return leg.

Atletico have struggled for form recently but claimed a much-needed 3-0 win at Osasuna in LaLiga on Saturday.

Atletico v Man United: talkSPORT coverage

The round of 16 first-leg tie will kick-off at 8pm on Wednesday, February 23.

Full coverage from the Wanda Metropolitano will be live on talkSPORT 2 from 7pm.

Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former England defender Stuart Pearce.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2, click  HERE for the live stream.

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Rangnick's Man United beat Leeds over the weekend and have improved recently
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Rangnick's Man United beat Leeds over the weekend and have improved recentlyCredit: GETTY

Atletico v Man United: Team news

Atleti XI: Oblak, Gimenez, Vrsaljko, Savic, Lodi, Reinildo, Kondogbia, Herrera, Marcos Llorente, Correa, Felix.

Subs: Lecomte, Christian, De Paul, Griezmann, Luis Suarez, Lemar, Felipe, Hermose, Javi Serrano.

Man United XI: De Gea, Shaw, Lindelof, Maguire, Varane, Fred, Pogba, Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford, Ronaldo.

Subs: Heaton, Henderson, Bailly, Jones, Mata, Lingard, Dalot, Alex Telles, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Elanga, Mejbri.

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are always a tough opponent
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Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are always a tough opponentCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Atletico v Man United: Who are Atelti?

Having led Atletico to LaLiga glory for the second time last season, Diego Simeone has endured a frustrating campaign to date. 

Simeone's men currently lie in fifth place in Spain, 15 points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table. 

They have lost seven league games to date this season, three more than in the whole of the last campaign and had their domestic cup hopes shattered by Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup exits inside a week last month. 

They emerged from Group B as runners-up behind Liverpool despite losing 3-2 at home to the Reds and 2-0 at Anfield, and went out of the competition at this stage last season to eventual winners Chelsea following a 1-0 defeat at the Metropolitano and a 2-0 reverse at Stamford Bridge. 

However, they did beat United over two legs the last time the clubs met, in the second round of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991-92. 

Evergreen striker Luis Suarez will hope to renew his rivalry with the men from Old Trafford, but Antoine Griezmann is yet to figure since his return from a thigh injury.

Atletico v Man United: What has been said?

Rangnick: "In the Champions League, you need to perform at the highest level in all those areas that you have mentioned.

"We have made sure the players could recover in the last few days and maybe we will have some fresh legs on the pitch, we will see tomorrow.

"Mentally we need to prepare for a very emotional, if not hostile, atmosphere tomorrow. I don't think the game or the fixture will be decided tomorrow, it will be decided in the second leg at Old Trafford."

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