Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid LIVE: Champions League result, final score, reaction as United crash out
Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid (agg 1-2): Relive the reaction from Old Trafford as Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League
Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League as Atletico Madrid triumphed 1-0 at Old Trafford to record a 2-1 aggregate win and advance to the quarter-finals.
Old Trafford demanded a classic European night, but only got a vintage Atletico performance, to produce another dismally routine Champions League exit for the Red Devils.
Their season is good as over after this 1-0 defeat, courtesy of Renan Lodi’s first-half header, bar a needlessly panicked chase for a place in the competition next season.
If they manage that, it will need immense changes for that to be anything other than yet another forgettable exit. This is a shadow of the club it should be, as a night like this proved. There was no grand-stand comeback, no great display from Cristiano Ronaldo. He was a ghost, but one of many. His psychological hold over Atletico is broken, to go with so much in the United team.
Atletico, for all the intensity of their celebration, didn’t really require the same intensity to their display. They had too much nous for United, too much Champions League experience.
Follow reaction as Manchester United take on Atletico Madrid:
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid
Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak will be hoping to avoid equalling an unwanted club record this evening.
They have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last six outings in this competition, and could concede in seven Champions League matches in a row for just the second time (September 2009-October 2013).
Manchester United could demolish and rebuild Old Trafford as part of stadium redevelopment plans
Manchester United are open to all ideas regarding the redevelopment of Old Trafford, including the option of knocking down their famous ground and rebuilding on the existing site.
It is understood that the demolition of United’s 112-year-old home is one of several plans proposed by engineers and architechts in contention to lead the modernisation.
Other options are said to include extending the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, which is confined by a railway line, or a wider revamp of the exisiting stadium structure.
United insisted on Monday evening that they are still in the early stages of Old Trafford’s redevelopment, with a master planner yet to be appointed.
The bulldozing and demolition of Old Trafford would be the most ambitious option by far and would raise the question of where United could play home fixtures in the meantime.
Manchester United could demolish Old Trafford as part of stadium revamp plans
United open to all options at early stage of 112-year-old ground’s modernisation process
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid
Last time out Atletico Madrid struck first at their Estadio Metropolitano home on 23 February, João Félix heading them into a seventh-minute lead.
It looked as though that goal would be enough to get them an advantage to take to Manchester, only for substitute Anthony Elanga to level in the 80th minute, five minutes after coming on.
Elanga’s goal was the 400th scored by United in the Champions League, group stage to final, and also the 100th conceded by Atlético.
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid: Team changes
Ralf Rangnick makes four changes to the Manchester United team that started the first leg. Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, and Paul Pogba sit this one out with Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga, Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles all preferred.
Diego Simeone makes three changes. Rodrigo de Paul, Koke and Antoinee Griezmann all return to the starting XI with Sime Vrsaljko, Angel Correa, and Geoffrey Kondogbia dropping out.
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid: Line-ups
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Telles, Fred, McTominay, Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho, Ronaldo
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Gimenez, Savic, Reinildo, De Paul, Koke, Renan Lodi, Herrera, Joao Felix, Griezmann
Will Cristiano Ronaldo start for Manchester United?
Since Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in the summer questions have been asked about his fitness and whether, at 37-years-old, he can still play multiple games in a week.
Ralf Rangnick was asked about this and he was pretty clear in answering when he said:
I’m not worried that he hasn’t been able to recover. He looks after himself. He knows what to do.
"If he can score another three goals, we will see? It is not easy against this team.
"It is not only about Cristiano, it is about the whole team. We have to know what it takes, the rest is about energy.
"It is very important [to score first]. Atletico don’t mind the opposition having the ball. If possible, we have to make sure we don’t concede at all."
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid
By scoring the equaliser in the first leg against Atletico Madrid, 19-year-old Anthony Elanga became the Manchester United’s youngest ever scorer in the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid: Recent results
Since the 1-1 draw in the first leg against Atletico Madrid, Manchester United have played three games in the Premier League. They drew the first one 0-0 with Watford before getting hammered 4-1 by Manchester City. Last time out they face Tottenham at home and a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick saw them edged to a 3-2 victory. Which United will turn up tonight is anyone’s guess?
Atletico Madrid have been way more consistent. They’ve also played three league games but in contrast to United have won all three. The first was a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo before they travelled to Real Betis and won 3-1. In their last match they were reigned in by Cadiz but Rodrigo De Paul sent them back in front in the second half before Javi Serrano was sent off two minutes from the end.
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid
Manchester United’s interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, has called on the fans to create a similar atmosphere at Old Trafford to the recent Tottenham game - which United won 3-2 - and promises that the players will do their best to give the supporters things to cheer about. He said:
We want players and supporters to be on top form, like Spurs. They can make it a very special experience for everybody. We have to create those moments."
Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid: Injuries and absentees
Manchester United received a boost on Monday when all of Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw trained alongside their teammates, and Ralf Rangnick says he has a fully fit squad to choose from.
Fernandes tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the win over Tottenham, but has since tested negative after missing out. McTominay’s calf injury ruled him out of that game and Rangnick has suggested that the Scottish midfielder will only play if deemed fully fit.
Atletico Madrid meanwhile have trouble. All of Sime Vrsaljko, Daniel Wass, Matheus Cunha, and Thomas Lemar will miss the visit to Old Trafford while Diego Simeone may also be without Jose Gimenez.
The Uruguayan centre-back has travelled but is struggling with a calf issue and Geoffrey Kondogbia is another doubt but Angel Correa and Koke should again be available after playing against Cadiz.
Yannick Carrasco is suspended.
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