BREAKING: Like Messi, #Ronaldo Led Manchester United Knocked Out Of Champions League – #MUNATL—-Manchester United have been knocked out of the Champions League after Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Ralf Rangnick made three changes from the side that started the 3-2 win over Tottenham, bringing in Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Elanga for Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Marcus Rashford.
After a cagey opening ten minutes, United created the first big chance of the evening as Diogo Dalot whipped a cross into Elanga and the young forward – who scored the equaliser in the first leg – diverted the ball straight at Jan Oblak.
Oblak’s counterpart David de Gea was called into action to stop a long-range effort from Rodrigo De Paul shortly after, while Bruno Fernandes felt he was felled in the box by Reinildo Mandava, only for his appeals to be waved away by the referee and dismissed by VAR.
Atletico, who have reached two Champions League finals under Diego Simeone, had the ball in the back of the net just after the half-hour mark, but Joax Felix’s goal was ruled out by offside.
The visitors continued to look dangerous, though, and got their lead shortly before half-time after Lodi dos Santos headed home following good work down the right flank from Felix.
Oblak produced another save to deny Fernandes on the stroke of half-time but Old Trafford erupted in boos when the whistle was blown, partially as the team were losing but predominantly because the home fans felt Atletico’s goal should have been ruled out for a foul on Elanga in the build-up.
Manchester United made a bright start to the second half and almost equalised just 30 seconds upon the restart as the ever-bright Elanga made room in the box before rifling a shot just wide of the post.
But Atletico were always a threat and De Gea had to make amends for his own poor pass to smother a speculative strike from De Paul.
Searching for an equaliser, Rangnick brought on Pogba, Rashford and Matic, but Atletico were managing the tie well, limiting United to half-chances, such as Raphael Varane’s leaping header that was well saved by Oblak.
More to follow…
