Lodi nets as Atletico push Man Utd out of the Champions League
Key takeaways:
- There were objections 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 goal.
- Manchester United's Champions League campaign was completed in the blow of loss by Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford to leave them with just a Premier League top-four place to battle for this season.
Man Utd knocked out of the Champions League:
Ralf Rangnick's team was not short on work. Still, it lacked the trick to crackdown Atletico's trademark strength as Renan Lodi's far-post header four minutes ere half-time sent the Spanish winners into the final eight.
United conquered possession for significant portions of the second half, but, as they have done so frequently, Atletico created a wall of defensive resistance - and when they did endanger, goalkeeper Jan Oblak offered the final fence.
He saved outstandingly from Raphael Varane's header in front of the Stretford End as United were left to battle for a spot in next season's Champions League in the last weeks of the domestic season.
Man Utd lack the style to make a distinction
Manchester United went the same way as so many squads before them who have suffered from this incredibly durable Atletico machine formed by Diego Simeone.
United delivered a ton of action and had Old Trafford swinging with a high-intensity opening. Still, they just flew out of ideas and inspiration the longer the match went on - Atletico searching in and defending with the kind of relish they have shown many times over the years.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a couple of classic early touches. Still, he was a peripheral figure long ere the end, with Rangnick and United's misery illustrated when struggling skipper Harry Maguire was replaced by veteran Juan Mata.