Manchester, United Kingdom: Atletico Madrid drove the final nail in the coffin of a miserable season for Manchester United as Renan Lodi’s header sent the Spanish champions into the Champions League quarterfinals with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford to progress 2-1 on aggregate.
The Brazilian full-back headed in unmarked at the back post four minutes before half-time to end United’s last chance of silverware this season as their drought without a trophy since 2017 goes on.
United now face an uphill task just to get back into the Champions League next season as an under-performing squad filled with star names sits fifth in the Premier League.
Atletico’s own struggles to break into La Liga’s top four this season have shown up their limitations.
But the experience of Diego Simeone’s men in the Champions League knockouts shone through as they comfortably saw the game out to reach the last eight for the sixth time in the last nine seasons.
“We were fully aware that against this team you need to score the first goal yourself,” said United interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
BENFICA STUN AJAX
Darwin Nunez headed home in the 77th minute as Benfica stunned Ajax to reach the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, winning the second leg of their last-16 tie 1-0 in Amsterdam to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
The Portuguese side had not managed a single attempt on target until Uruguayan striker Nunez beat goalkeeper Andre Onana to Alex Grimaldo’s free-kick and headed in to silence the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Ajax, who had dominated the first half, could not recover from that blow and go out while two-time European Cup winners Benfica look forward to Friday’s draw for the quarterfinals.
Having sent Barcelona packing in the group stage, they will now appear in the last eight for the first time since 2016.
— AFP
Results:
In Amsterdam: Ajax (NED) 0 Benfica (POR) 1 (Nunez 77)
Benfica win 3-2 on aggregate
In Manchester, England:
Manchester United (ENG) 0 Atletico Madrid (ESP) 1 (Lodi 41)
Atletico Madrid win 2-1 on aggregate
