Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid (Agg: 1-2): Champions League exit for Ralf Rangnick's side after Renan Lodi's header

By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 16, 2022

Match report as Manchester United suffer a 1-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid to end their Champions League hopes at the last-16 stage; David de Gea: "There are too many years without any trophies"

Manchester United are out of the Champions League after a 1-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid saw them beaten 2-1 on aggregate.

Renan Lodi's first-half header was enough to take Diego Simeone's side into the quarter-finals as Ralf Rangnick's team endured a frustrating evening at Old Trafford.

Already out of the FA Cup, the defeat means that United's slim hopes of ending their long trophy drought this season are at an end, with goalkeeper David de Gea later admitting: "There are too many years without any trophies."

Manchester United 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.

Sponsored Links

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.

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.

Rangnick made a triple substitution midway through the second half. Fernandes was withdrawn. But the formation stayed the same until Edinson Cavani came on for Fred.

Jan Oblak did save well from Varane but the final substitution only capped a miserable night - captain Harry Maguire jeered off as he was replaced by Juan Mata.

There was little realistic chance of Manchester United pulling off something extraordinary in this Champions League. The Premier League table reveals the gulf between them and their domestic rivals even before the best clubs from continental Europe are considered.

However, this was still a dismal evening for United because it was so predictable. Punished on the counter-attack after being exposed in the wide areas, what followed was grim: United trying to find a way through Atletico Madrid's defensive block. Ideas lacking.

Rangnick said afterwards that the one thing not to do against Atletico is concede first. That is what they did. Simeone understood the one thing that his team had to do. "We knew the opponent likes to play on the counter-attack," he said. Sit back. Let United have it.

What followed was turgid. United passed it to one side and then to the other. Crosses came in. Fodder for these centre-backs. An increasingly desperate Ronaldo tried to knock it past a defender and run round him. Maybe 10 years ago.

Manchester United's next engagement is not until April 2 when they host Leicester City in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5.30pm.

Atletico Madrid are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Rayo Vallecano; kick-off 8pm.

 

 

 

 

Source Sky Sports

Posted March 16, 2022


 

You may also like...
Ghana Shatters Super Eagles World Cup Dream

Qatar 2022: Germany Early Exit Thickens After Draw...

Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win...

Aubameyang Wants His Kids To Be Like Smith...

Kiddies Camp: Excitement Galore In Camp As Queen...

Former Super Falcons’ Goalkeeper, Ayegba, Turns Bus Driver...

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,141 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,350 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,991 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,931 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,288 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,332 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,035 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,489 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,916 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media