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Atletico de Madrid qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League (C1) on March 15, 2022. The Spanish club won 1-0 at Manchester United, after a draw 1-1 to go. In the other evening meeting, Benfica also reversed the trend (2-2 in the first leg) by winning 1-0 on the lawn of Ajax Amsterdam.
Cristiano Ronaldo was eliminated with Manchester United in the knockout stages of the Champions League, like his best enemy Lionel Messi with PSG. The Portuguese and the English club indeed had a frustrating evening against Atletico de Madrid on March 15, 2022.
The English club had several clear chances to score during this second leg. Whether it’s a close range recovery from Swedish striker Anthony Elanga, miraculously deflected by the front of the opposing goalkeeper, Jan Oblak (13th). Or on a tense strike from the Portuguese right side Diogo Dalot, captured by the Slovenian goalkeeper (26th).
But it was the visitors who found the fault in the 41st minute. Brazilian side Renan Lodi scores with a header, following a cross from French striker Antoine Griezmann (0-1, 41st). Shortly before, Portuguese striker Joao Felix had already scored for Atletico Madrid, but the linesman had signaled a very limited offside (34th).
In the second period, the Red Devils multiplied the assaults: a threatening cross from Elanga (46th), a powerful but off-target volley from English striker Jadon Soncho (59th), a header from French defender Raphaël Varane then an acrobatic return from Cristiano Ronaldo (77th) intercepted by Oblak.
Benfica also reverses the trend
Nothing works. The solid and realistic Spanish club emerged victorious from this double confrontation, three weeks after having nevertheless conceded a 1-1 draw at home.
A turnaround also achieved by Benfica, during the other round of 16 return in the evening. Held in check at home by Ajax Amsterdam (2-2), the Portuguese club took revenge thanks to an achievement by Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez (77th).