The Colchoneros, true to their reputation, did not have to dominate the game outrageously to afford the Red Devils on Tuesday (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 had more chances.
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 2nd consecutive season that the Champions League quarter-finals will be played without Cristiano Ronaldo and/or Lionel Messi, while at least one of the 2 players was present during the 15 previous editions. Absences. #MUNATL pic.twitter.com/pOcTMUb7sq
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 15, 2022
In the end, the “Cholismo” struck again. The principles of Diego Simeone, who have guided and shaped the Spanish team 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 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.