Cristian Orozco makes first Man Utd start in 3-0 UEFA Youth League defeat against Atletico Madrid

According to a report by Manchester Evening News on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Manchester United’s Under-19s suffered a 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Youth League, with Colombian midfielder Cristian Orozco making his first start for the club.

Orozco lined up in midfield alongside Tyler Fletcher as Adam Lawrence’s side looked to secure a positive result ahead of the senior teams’ Champions League meeting later in the day.

However, United’s youngsters made a difficult start to the contest, falling behind in the ninth minute when Joel Sanchez found the net for Atletico.

Goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes produced an impressive save in the 28th minute to prevent the hosts from extending their lead, but Atletico soon doubled their advantage with a powerful effort into the top corner.

Lawrence’s side attempted to respond after conceding the opening goal and showed some improvement as the match progressed. However, they struggled to convert their opportunities and went into the latter stages still searching for a breakthrough.

Orozco, who was making his first start since joining Manchester United, played 58 minutes before being substituted as the visitors looked for a way back into the game.

Kai Rooney also featured, coming off the bench shortly after the hour mark to replace Jacob Watson. However, United’s hopes of mounting a comeback were effectively ended when Atletico substitute Gonzalo Gross scored five minutes later to make it 3-0.

The third goal sealed a disappointing afternoon for United’s youngsters, who were unable to find a response against their Spanish opponents.

Despite the scoreline, the report indicated that the contest was more competitive than the final result suggested, with Lawrence’s team creating opportunities to reduce the deficit.

For Orozco, the appearance marked an important milestone in his early Manchester United career. The Colombian midfielder will now hope to build on his first start and help the team produce a stronger performance in their next UEFA Youth League fixture.