Man Utd crash out of Champions League after stunning RB Leipzig blitz

Manchester United were sent crashing out of the Champions League after losing 3-2 to RB Leipzig in their final group match.

United went into the game knowing they would qualify for the knockout stages unless they lost. However, they soon gave themselves a mountain to climb – and despite a late fightback, they never recovered.

Leipzig took the lead inside just two minutes, courtesy of a player still owned by Manchester City. Angelino latched onto a cross from Marcel Sabitzer before firing a clean strike into the bottom corner.

The German side were causing problems out wide, and United conceded a second goal via that route in the 13th minute. This time, it came from Angelino’s cross in the opposite direction, which Amadou Haidara volleyed in from the right-hand side.

There was a let off for United when Emil Forsberg fired a shot wide from the middle of the box which could – and probably should – have extended their lead. But soon after, Leipzig thought they had.

Willi Orban bundled the ball over the line after Ibrahima Konate’s header had caught out David De Gea and rebounded off the post. However, the goal was ruled out as Orban was offside. Still, it was another wake-up call for United.

Indeed, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side began to come into life at the other end. Harry Maguire had a powerful header from a corner, but the move was stopped for a foul.

Man Utd fight back in second half not enough

Solskjaer knew he had to change something, so he sent on Donny van de Beek in place of Alex Telles as United switched from a back three to a back four for the second half.

Their best chance to reduce the deficit yet came in the 68th minute, when Fernandes’ free kick struck the crossbar.

However, if that was supposed to give United some hope, they received a crushing blow less than a minute later when Leipzig scored a third. Substitute Justin Kluivert pounced in the box to dink the ball past De Gea.

United were given a slight glimmer of hope when they won a penalty for a foul on Mason Greenwood. Fernandes sent Peter Gulacsi the wrong way to give United a lifeline with just over 10 minutes to go.

It seemed too little too late, but United pulled another goal back when Paul Pogba – who had come on after being left out of the starting lineup – headed in via Konate.

It looked as if the ball may have gone off Maguire’s arm in between Pogba and Konate, but the goal stood. United still had a chance.

The fourth official signalled four additional minutes as time ticked on for United to try and get the one more goal they needed to qualify.

They came extremely close when Nordi Mukiele almost diverted a cross from Pogba into his own net. However, Leipzig could breath a sigh of relief.

United were unable to find the one last chance they needed, meaning Leipzig held on to their win. It means the Bundesliga side progress at United’s expense, with Solskjaer’s side dropping into the Europa League.