There were protests from the Manchester United players that the referee went to blow his whistle but then didn’t in the build-up to the Atletico Madrid goalManchester United’s Champions League campaign ended in the disappointment of defeat by Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford to leave them with only a Premier League top-four place to fight for this season.
Ralf Rangnick’s side were not short on endeavour but lacked the guile to break down Atletico’s trademark resilience as Renan Lodi’s far-post header four minutes before half-time sent the Spanish champions into the last eight.
United dominated possession for large portions of the second half but, as they have done so often, Atletico built a wall of defensive resistance – and when they did threaten, goalkeeper Jan Oblak provided the final barrier.
He saved brilliantly from Raphael Varane’s header in front of the Stretford End as United were left to fight for a place in next season’s Champions League in the final weeks of the domestic season.
Follow all the reaction from Old Trafford hereMan Utd lack class to make differenceRangnick questions ‘some curious refereeing decisions’ after Champions League exitManchester United went the same way as so many teams before them who have suffered at the hands of this remarkably durable Atletico machine assembled by Diego Simeone.
United showed plenty of effort and had Old Trafford rocking with a high-intensity start but they simply ran out of ideas and inspiration the longer the game went on – Atletico digging in and defending with the sort of relish they have shown many times over the years.
Cristiano Ronaldo produced a couple of classic early touches but he was a peripheral figure long before the end, with Rangnick and United’s desperation illustrated when struggling captain Harry Maguire was replaced by veteran Juan Mata.
United were also infuriated by the erratic refereeing of Slovenian official Slavko Vincic, particularly when they felt Anthony Elanga had been fouled moments before Lodi arrived unmarked to head home Antoine Griezmann’s cross at the far post.
Over the two legs, however, United have simply not been good enough to progress and now face an uphill task to reach the Premier League’s top four, as they lie fifth behind Arsenal having played three games more.
Simeone does it againAt the final whistle, Atletico coach Simeone showed a neat turn of pace to turn left and sprint off towards an infuriated Stretford End, straight down the tunnel without a backwards glance, pelted with objects and drinks as he disappeared from view.
Behind him, Manchester United players and fans were left with a familiar feeling of having the rug pulled out from under them by Simeone – and by the Atletico side he has drilled so fiercely and with such discipline.
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp felt exactly the same after Atletico won at Anfield at this same stage two years ago and while La Liga’s champions may not be among the Champions League favourites, no-one will particularly relish being paired with them.
They have players who can provide class in attack and in Oblak they possess one of the world’s great goalkeepers.
Player of the match
Renan LodiRenan Lodi
with an average of 7.62
Manchester UnitedSquad number1Player namede Gea
Squad number17Player nameFred
Squad number7Player nameCristiano Ronaldo
Squad number25Player nameSancho
Squad number19Player nameVarane
Squad number36Player nameElanga
Squad number20Player nameDiogo Dalot
Squad number27Player nameAlex Telles
Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
Squad number8Player nameMata
Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
Squad number31Player nameMatic
Squad number21Player nameCavani
Squad number6Player namePogba
Squad number5Player nameMaguire
Squad number10Player nameRashford
Atlético MadridSquad number12Player nameRenan Lodi
Squad number7Player nameJoão Félix
Squad number13Player nameOblak
Squad number8Player nameGriezmann
Squad number16Player nameHerrera
Squad number23Player nameReinildo
Squad number2Player nameGiménez
Squad number5Player namede Paul
Squad number6Player nameKoke
Squad number4Player nameKondogbia
Squad number14Player nameMarcos Llorente
Squad number10Player nameCorrea
Squad number15Player nameSavic
Squad number18Player nameFelipe
Line-upsMan UtdFormation 4-2-3-1
1de Gea
20Dalot19Varane5Maguire27Telles
17Fred39McTominay
36Elanga18Bruno Fernandes25Sancho
7Cristiano Ronaldo
1de Gea20DalotBooked at 87mins19Varane5MaguireSubstituted forMataat 84’minutes27Telles17FredSubstituted forCavaniat 75’minutes39McTominaySubstituted forMaticat 67’minutesBooked at 81mins36ElangaSubstituted forRashfordat 67’minutes18Bruno FernandesSubstituted forPogbaat 67’minutes25Sancho7Cristiano RonaldoSubstitutes2Lindelöf3Bailly4Jones6Pogba8Mata10Rashford14Lingard21Cavani22Heaton26Henderson29Wan-Bissaka31MaticAtl MadridFormation 3-1-4-2
13Oblak
15Savic2Giménez23Mandava
16Herrera
14Llorente5de Paul6Koke12Lodi dos Santos
8Griezmann7Sequeira
13Oblak15Savic2Giménez23Mandava16HerreraBooked at 81mins14Llorente5de PaulBooked at 43mins6KokeSubstituted forKondogbiaat 80’minutes12Lodi dos Santos8GriezmannSubstituted forCorreaat 90+3’minutes7SequeiraSubstituted forFelipeat 90’minutesSubstitutes1Lecomte4Kondogbia9Suárez10Correa18Felipe22Hermoso26Serrano Martínez28Moreno Rebanal31Gómez36Martín Domínguez38González Verjara47Cámara SilvaReferee:Slavko Vincic
Attendance:73,008
Live TextMatch ends, Manchester United 0, Atletico Madrid 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester United 0, Atletico Madrid 1.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Renan Lodi.
Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Ángel Correa replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Foul by Raphaël Varane (Manchester United).
Reinildo (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Reinildo (Atletico Madrid).
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
Héctor Herrera (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Atletico Madrid. Felipe replaces João Félix.
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Diogo Dalot (Manchester United).
Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid).
Alex Telles (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by João Félix (Atletico Madrid).
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