Another Trophyless Season As Man Utd Crash Out Of Champions League
16 March, 2022
Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid (1-2 on aggregate)
Manchester United crashed out of the UEFA Champions League after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
Paul Pogba dropped to the bench as Bruno Fernandes returned to the line-up while Anthony Elanga, Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also got recalls.
Elanga, who netted in the first leg, had a great chance to put United ahead on 13 minutes after being picked out by Fernandes, but the Swedish forward's strike was saved by Jan Oblak. Atletico had the ball in the back of the net on 33 minutes when Jaoa Felix turned home a cross from Marcos Llorente, but celebrations were cut for an offside in the build-up.
While United dominated for most of the half, Atletico got the opening four minutes before the break when Renan Lodi nodded home Antoine Griezmann's cross at the far post.
With the hosts struggling to find an equaliser in the second half Rangnick threw on Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Marcus Rashford in the 66th minute.
United nearly got back on level terms on 80 minutes when Raphael Varane got on the end of Alex Telles' cross but saw his header tipped away by Oblak.
That proved to be the final clear-cut chance of the game as Atletico held on to secure the win and a spot in the quarter-finals.
Ajax 0-1 Benfica (2-3 on aggregate)
Benfica secured passage to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after defeating Ajax at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
The sides had it all to play for heading into the second leg after playing to an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first leg two weeks ago.
Benfica named the same starting line-up from the first leg, while the hosts kept faith with goalkeeper Andre Onana as Remko Pasveer remains out injured.
The first half, however, proved to be a cagey affair as neither side could carve out a serious chances in the opening 45 minutes.
There was nothing in the game until the 77th minute when Benfica took the lead through Darwin Nunez, who sent a fine header past Onana from Alex Grimaldo's cross.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za