Atletico Madrid drove the final nail in the coffin of a miserable season for Manchester United. The first-half header from Renan Lodi was enough to send Atletico Madrid to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-0 win to progress 2-1 on aggregate as Manchester United endured a frustrating evening at Old Trafford.
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Anthony Elanga had appeared to be fouled in the build-up to the goal but United lacked the spark at the other end that was required to break down a resolute Diego Simeone’s side.
Already out of the FA Cup, the defeat means that United’s slim hopes of ending their long trophy drought this season came to an end.
Ralf Rangnick’s men were the more enterprising team for much of the first half as they tried to press Atletico with some success, rushing the Spanish side to the delight of the crowd.
Raphael Varane’s tackle on Joao Felix was cheered, Fred’s flicks and tricks brought roars, while Cristiano Ronaldo was winning tackles by the touchline, dribbling down the wing.
There were moments, hints that Atletico might fold. Elanga spurned a wonderful chance from close range. Bruno Fernandes wanted a penalty. Nothing was given.
The Atletico forwards had only long balls to work with for much of the opening 45 minutes. But when they did play, it was United’s frailty that was systematically exposed.
The warning came just before the goal, Marcos Llorente narrowly offside when setting up Joao Felix to score. The Atletico wing-backs had too much space. It proved costly.
Elanga appeared to have been fouled at the other end. But Atletico were soon through United, Joao Felix’s backheel finding Antoine Griezmann whose cross was headed in by Lodi.
David de Gea, who had earlier pulled off an extraordinary save to keep out Rodrigo De Paul’s speculative shot, could do nothing. Diogo Dalot could not say the same.
A response was needed. Elanga drove wide, Fred dragged another past the other post to Ronaldo’s disgust, before Jadon Sancho volleyed the ball into the Stretford End.
Benfica also stunned Ajax to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The Champions League quarter-final draw will take place on Friday, March 18 with the balls being drawn out at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The semi-finals will be drawn at the same time, meaning clubs and fans can plot out their potential route to the Paris final.
The list of qualified teams are:
- Liverpool
- Bayern Munich
- Manchester City
- Real Madrid
- Atletico Madrid
- Benfica
- Juventus or Villarreal
- Lille or Chelsea