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United they fall: Renan Lodi wins it for Atleti as Manchester United knocked out
Manchester, March 16
Expensive mediocrity confirmed: Manchester United's trophy drought completes a fifth season.
The last path to a title was ended at an Old Trafford now accustomed to letdowns as United were knocked out of the Champions League in a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Ajax bowed out as Benfica beat them 3-2 on aggregate. REUTERSIn a tight and tense game, it was United defender Diogo Dalot leaving Renan Lodi unmarked at the far post to head in Antoine Griezmann's cross that made the difference in the 41st minute.
So often the team's saviour, David de Gea was beaten. The goalkeeper feels the pain more, being the only starter still in the team from the end of the trophy-filled Alex Ferguson era in 2013.
"Of course it's not good enough," De Gea said. "It's hard for the club, for us and the fans. This is where we are at the moment. It is a difficult situation, but we have to keep fighting."
Cristiano Ronaldo departed Old Trafford before Ferguson retired and the malaise kicked in. The 37-year-old star returned this season — after collecting trophies at Real Madrid and Juventus — to be the difference-maker.
Rather than dazzling, as he did with Saturday's hat-trick against Tottenham, Ronaldo didn't manage a single shot against the Spanish champions.
Benfica stun Ajax 1-0
Amsterdam: Unable to win at home yet again, Ajax's great Champions League run has suddenly ended.
Ajax couldn't halt a 26-year winless streak at home in the knockout rounds of the European competition on Tuesday, losing 1-0 to Benfica to waste a perfect campaign in the group stage. Darwin Nunez scored late and Benfica reached the quarterfinals for the first time in six years. Nunez found the net with a 77th-minute header off a free-kick from the right side to help Benfica make it to the last-8 for the fifth time.
The teams had drawn 2-2 in the first leg. — AP