The Colchoneros, true to their reputation, did not have to dominate the game outrageously to afford the Red Devils on Tuesday night (1-0).
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As for PSG, individualities will not have saved them. Cristiano Ronaldo and the Red Devils were eliminated in the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday March 15, losing against Atlético de Madrid at home in the second leg (0-1, after the 1-1 of the go). Faced with a solid and realistic opponent, Manchester United ran out of ideas and especially failed to respond to Renan Lodi’s opener just before the break.
Alone at the far post, the Brazilian full-back headed a very good cross from Antoine Griezmann to deceive David De Gea, who seemed to have anticipated a cross attempt (41st). The Red Devils have however obtained more opportunities.
Young Anthony Elanga (19) came within a hair’s breadth of opening the scoring in the 13th minute by cutting off a good cross from Bruno Fernandes, but Jan Oblak’s skull decided otherwise. Another great opportunity was not converted when Raphaël Varane’s header again found the Slovenian goalkeeper on his way (77th), who finished the game with five saves to his credit.
2 – This is the second consecutive season that the quarter-finals of the Champions League will be played without Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, while this was the case in the previous 15 editions. Absences. #MUNATL pic.twitter.com/MGgqR9zUpr
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 15, 2022
Cholismo has struck again. The principles of Diego Simeone, which have been guiding and formatting the Colchoneros since 2011, have been successfully applied. A compact defensive block, a lot of effort, quick projections and efficiency against the opposing goal have once again proven (if it were still necessary) that dominating is not winning. A year after being dropped at this stage of the competition against eventual winner Chelsea, Atlético are back in the quarter-finals and will know the identity of their opponent on Friday.