Manchester United have been knocked out of the Champions League after losing 2-1 to Real Madrid at Old Trafford, with the Spanish champions winning 3-2 on aggregate.
United looked on course to progress to the quarter finals after Sergio Ramos turned Nani’s cross into his own goal after a feint touch from Danny Welbeck.
However, the hosts were handed a disadvantage soon after, when Nani was dismissed after clashing with Arvelo Arbeloa.
The Portuguese winger’s eyes were fixed on the ball which he tried to bring under his control, though his high foot struck the former Liverpool man in the stomach, leading to referee Cuneyt Cakir to reach for his red card.
Within ten minutes, substitute Luka Modric scored a stunning equaliser for the visitors before Cristiano Ronaldo gave Madrid the advantage three minutes later with a close range finish from a tight angle following Gonzalo Higuain’s cross.
Efforts from Michael Carrick, Robin Van Persie, captain Nemanja Vidic and substitute Wayne Rooney went astray in the final twenty minutes, with Jose Mourinho’s men holding on for a famous victory.
After the match, the former Chelsea coach admitted that “the best team lost”, echoing the respect shown by his countryman who declined to celebrate what turned out to be the winning goal against his former employees.